Chandigarh: To ensure a clean, safe, and hygienic environment ahead of the monsoon season, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh will launch a fortnightly deep cleaning drive across all city wards and zones starting Wednesday. Amit Kumar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, said that the comprehensive sanitation campaign is aimed at preventing waterlogging, curbing the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, and improving overall public health and sanitation conditions in the city. He said that under this initiative, dedicated teams will carry out intensive cleaning of roads, drains, public spaces, and garbage-vulnerable points. Waste will be collected in a systematic manner, segregated at the source, and sent to the appropriate processing facilities to ensure scientific and sustainable waste management. “This drive reflects MCC’s strong commitment to environmental health and public well-being. By involving all departments and encouraging citizen participation, the MCC aims to set a benchmark in monsoon preparedness and urban cleanliness,” said Kumar.

Chandigarh: The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC), since its reconstitution on November 27, 2024, has disposed of 3086 cases in just six months. Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer, HHRC said that between November 27, 2024 and May 31, 2025, a total of 3086 cases were resolved, which included suomotu matters and 56 long-pending cases (over two years old). Between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, HHRC received 2442 new complaints across various districts of Haryana. The highest numbers of cases were registered in Gurugram (320) and Faridabad (258), he added.

Jalandhar, June 11 :

In a major push to revamp sports infrastructure in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the transformation of Burlton Park into an ultra-modern Sports Hub.

The project will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹78 crore.

Describing it as a historic moment, both leaders emphasized that these new sports facilities will significantly strengthen Jalandhar’s status as the sports capital of India. Under the Smart City Mission, Burlton Park is being developed into a comprehensive Sports Hub featuring a wide range of facilities. As part of the project, a state-of-the-art cricket ground will be constructed alongside various other stadiums and modern sports amenities.

They said that Two multi-purpose stadiums are also being developed—one dedicated to handball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and wrestling; and the other to weightlifting, judo, and kabaddi. Both leaders said that Separate stadiums for football and hockey are also planned, along with a dedicated yoga shed for yoga enthusiasts and a skating rink for young athletes. They said that in addition, cycling and jogging tracks will be constructed, and the existing lawn tennis courts will be modernized.

Both the leaders said that Sports Hub will include seating for 500 spectators indoors and 1,000 outdoors. They said that to enhance public convenience, the facility will also include amenities such as a cafeteria, shopping complex/vending zones, reliable electricity and water supply, and other necessary infrastructure. They further said that to ensure uninterrupted power, the complex will be equipped with transformers and DG sets.

Both the leaders said that park will feature three main entry gates, traffic lights for smooth traffic management, and renovated roads with aesthetic landscaping. They said that Parking facilities will accommodate over 200 four-wheelers and more than 150 two-wheelers. Highlighting Jalandhar’s rich sporting legacy, both leaders remarked that the city is globally renowned thanks to institutions like Burlton Park, Surjit Hockey Stadium, and the Sports College.

They noted that footballs, rugby balls, and other equipment made in Jalandhar are used in prestigious events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. They further added that top cricketers around the world use cricket bats manufactured in Jalandhar, and that Punjab’s sporting tradition began and flourished here. Both the leaders said that Punjab Government, they affirmed, is fully committed to advancing Jalandhar’s prominence in the field of sports adding they concluded by announcing that the project will be completed and dedicated to the public within the next year.

Chandigarh Fire Brigade Union Hosts Blood Donation Drive; Mayor Commends Firefighters’ Dedication to Humanity*

Chandigarh

The Fire Brigade Workers Welfare Union, in association with Shree Kanwar Mahasangh Charitable Trust, Chandigarh, organized a blood donation camp today at the Sector 17 Fire Station. The event highlighted the compassionate and service-driven spirit of the city’s firefighters and was graced by city Mayor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla as the Chief Guest, along with the dedicated personnel of the Chandigarh Fire Department.

Addressing the gathering, Mayor Babla praised the firefighters for their selfless service beyond emergency duties. “Our fire personnel are true heroes—not only do they save lives during critical situations, but they also step forward to serve humanity in every possible way. Today’s camp is a shining example of that spirit,” she remarked.

The blood donation drive was conducted in collaboration with PGI Chandigarh Hospital, with medical staff ensuring strict adherence to all safety and hygiene protocols. A total of 75 units of blood were collected during the camp.

Mayor Babla also interacted with the donors and expressed heartfelt appreciation for the fire department’s ongoing commitment to public welfare. The Fire Brigade Workers Welfare Union extended gratitude to all the volunteers, donors, and medical staff, reaffirming their continued dedication to both emergency response and community service.

CHANDIGARH, June 11: Suggesting that the Aam Aadmi Party government’s claims to bring ‘Udyog Kranti’ (industrial revolution) in Punjab was too late in the day, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today said that the announcement was made only because of the Ludhiana West by-election which the ruling party was set to lose in any case. 

He also alleged that the announcement which was made when the electoral process is on and the model code of conduct is in force, amounts to violation of the code. 

Reacting to the announcement, the PCC president said, the hype created around the programme was so characteristic of the AAP where the budget on advertisements and publicity outruns the actual cost of the project.

He pointed out, the state was financially in a mess and the state government was surviving on borrowed money and multiplying the loan year after year. He said, the trade and industry in Punjab was crying for the GST refunds, which had been delayed for months together. 

“Just because you are staring at an imminent defeat in Ludhiana West, you decided to make a tempting announcement of ’45 days’ clearance, which obviously nobody is going to believe as everybody is sure that it is never going to happen”, he told the AAP government. 

The PCC president said the timing of the announcement was important. He said, this is actually a violation of the model code of conduct, which is in force due to the Ludhiana West by-election. He pointed out, elections are being held in Ludhiana West, which is an industrial hub. By making an alluring announcement, in the midst of the election process, the AAP has violated the election model code of conduct. 

But, he added, the Congress would still have welcomed it if it was sure that the government’s intentions are genuine and sincere. He said, anyone can make out the reason and purpose behind this gala event is only to influence the Ludhiana West election outcome. Everything will be forgotten on June 19, he predicted.

Chandigarh, June 11

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar held a series of bilateral meetings with the Heads of various Election Management Bodies (EMBs) on the sidelines of his visit to Sweden to attend the International IDEA Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity (June 10-12, 2025).

These engagements aim to further strengthen India’s longstanding partnerships in election management and democratic cooperation. During the bilateral meetings, CEC Gyanesh Kumar held one-on-one discussions with heads and senior officials from several Election Management Bodies (EMBs), covering a wide range of global electoral experiences and innovations.

Later in the evening of Tuesday, CEC Gyanesh Kumar delivered the inaugural keynote address at the opening session of the International IDEA Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity.

Details of bilateral meetings:

1. Ms. Marisa Arlene Cabral Porchas, Coordinator of International Affairs and Ms. Norma Irene De la Cruz, Electoral Councilor, National Electoral Institute, Mexico

2. Mr. Mochammad Afifuddin, Chairperson, General Election Commission, Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI)

3. Mr. Purvee Delgernaran, Chairperson, General Election Commission of Mongolia

4. Mr. Mosotho Simon Moepya, Chairperson, Electoral Commission of South Africa

5. Mr. Hanspeter Wyss, Policy Advisor, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland

6. Ms. Angelica Caraman, Chairperson and Mr. Pavel Postica, Deputy Chairperson, Central Election Commission, Republic of Moldova.

7. Mr. Darius Gaizauskas, Head of Information Technology Department, Central Electoral Commission, Republic of Lithuania

8. Mr. Abdool Rahman Mohammad Irfan, Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius.

9. Mr. Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission of the United Kingdom

10. Ms. Anna-Karina Elbert, Head and Ms. Claudia Isfort, Assistant Head, Federal Returning Officer’s Office, Germany.

11. Mr. Oleh Didenko, Chairperson and Mr. Vitalli Plukar, Deputy Chairperson, Central Election Commission of Ukraine

12. Mr. Drazenko Pandek, State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia.

Chandigarh, June 11:

Highlighting India’s electoral integrity, scale and diversity, Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, while delivering his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Sweden last evening, reaffirmed the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in capacity building programmes for Election Management Bodies (EMB) of countries around the globe. Conducting elections with utmost integrity is a testament to our national resolve, he emphasized. Over 100 participants representing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of around 50 countries are taking part in the Conference, which is being organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Gyanesh Kumar also informed the participants about the massive scale of the election exercise that is undertaken by the ECI, especially during the parliamentary elections, which is done under the close watch of the political parties; candidates; general, police and expenditure observers and the media who, he stated, act akin to concurrent auditors at various stages. The CEC also highlighted the scale of coordination that underpins the conduct of elections in India. With over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police forces, observers, and agents of political parties at the time of conduct of elections, ECI becomes the world’s largest organisation, surpassing the combined workforce of several national governments and major global corporations and ensures that India’s nearly one billion electors are freely able to exercise their franchise.

Further, speaking at this global platform, Gyanesh Kumar traced the evolution of Indian elections over the decades, noting how the system has adapted to increasing complexity while staying rooted in constitutional values. From 173 million electors in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and from just 0.2 million polling stations in the early years to over 1.05 million today, India’s electoral journey has demonstrated both institutional foresight and unmatched scale. He noted that the 2024 General Elections saw the participation of 743 political parties, which comprised six national parties, 67 state parties and the other registered political parties. A total of 20,271 candidates contested elections conducted across the length and breadth of the country using 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), reaffirming the Commission’s capability to conduct elections that are inclusive, efficient, and secure.

Gyanesh Kumar underscored the statutory sharing of India’s Electoral Roll with all recognized political parties every year during revision as well as before the elections since 1960 till today, with provision of claims, objections and appeals, as one of the world’s most rigorous and transparent exercises, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process. He noted that this robust mechanism plays a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year.

Reflecting on the inclusive design of Indian elections, he stated that the electoral process serves first-time voters, senior citizens aged 85+, persons with special abilities, third-gender electors, and voters in the most inaccessible regions with equal care and commitment. From polling booths with a single elector to highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh, India’s commitment to leaving no voter behind was reiterated as a constitutional principle rather than a logistical challenge.