CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 15:

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive against terrorism and organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police, in close coordination with central agencies, has successfully intercepted and arrested two gangster-turned-terrorists linked with the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) immediately upon their arrival in Mumbai, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Sajan Masih, a resident of Veroke in Gurdaspur and Sukhdev Kumar alias Munish Bedi, a resident of Lahori Gate in Amritsar. Both the accused persons have a substantial criminal history, with multiple cases of murder, attempt to murder, arms and explosives, and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) registered against them at various police stations of Batala and Amritsar.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that both the arrested accused persons were the important nodes of Pak-based ISI-supported Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and USA-based detained BKI-operative Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia. “They (arrested persons) were operating from overseas locations, including Dubai and Armenia, while attempting to orchestrate criminal and terror activities in Punjab,” he said, while terming it as a big success of the Punjab Police.

          Pertinently, as part of this sustained efforts, Punjab Police has got issued Look Out Circulars (LOC) and Red Corner Notices against various wanted criminals, who have taken shelter at foreign lands, which helped in tracking both the criminals.

          The DGP said that preliminary investigation has revealed that accused persons were part of a network involving BKI, responsible for several grenade attacks on police stations in Amritsar and Batala, and the killings of Hardeep Singh of Jourrian Kalan and Kiryana store owner Ravi Kumar of Dera Baba Nanak. Accused Sajan Masih was also coordinating with another key associate, Shamsher Shera alias Honey, currently based in Armenia, he said.

          Sharing operational details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that acting on specific intelligence inputs developed in close coordination with central agencies, a joint team of the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar and Counter Intelligence, Pathankot, swiftly dispatched to Mumbai and took both criminals into custody, as soon as they landed.

          The AIG said that both the arrested persons were actively involved in providing logistical support, funding channels, and strategic direction to their foot soldiers operating in Punjab.

          Meanwhile, both accused have been arrested in connection with FIR No. 47 dated 25-08-2025 registered under sections 25, 29 and 30 of the Arms Act and section 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

New Delhi/Chandigarh, December 15

Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, raised several pressing issues and demands for grants while speaking on the Supplementary Demands in Parliament.

Meet Hayer demanded that Anganwadi workers and helpers be regularised and that the meagre honorarium paid to them be increased. He also demanded that, in addition to the announced ₹1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab, an additional ₹20,000 crore be given to compensate for the actual losses suffered by the state due to floods. Citing population growth, in the absence of a census, he also demanded the immediate issuance of new ration cards under the Public Distribution System. He further stated that grants in sports should be allocated to states based on their sporting performance.

Taking a dig at the “Viksit Bharat” model, Meet Hayer said that India ranks 102nd out of 123 countries on the Global Hunger Index. He said Anganwadi workers play a crucial role in child development, yet they are subjected to exploitation. The Centre provides only ₹4,500 to workers and ₹2,250 to helpers. He demanded that the government increase their honorarium, fix a permanent salary, and regularise their services.

Referring to the devastating floods in Punjab, the AAP MP said the state suffered financial losses amounting to ₹20,000 crore and that the basic infrastructure was badly damaged. He said the Prime Minister had announced a flood relief package of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab, but nothing has been received so far. He demanded that the Centre immediately release ₹20,000 crore along with the announced flood package.

Raising the issue of the shortage of ration cards under the Public Distribution System, Meet Hayer said that due to COVID, the census was not conducted in 2021 and there appears to be no possibility of it being conducted in the near future either. He said that according to the 2011 census, 1,41,45,000 ration cards were issued in Punjab, whereas due to population growth, the number of families below the poverty line has also increased, necessitating an increase in the number of ration cards in the state.

Highlighting discrimination against Punjab in sports grants, Meet Hayer said Punjab was sidelined in the Khelo India grants, while Gujarat was given crores of rupees in 2024. He said that Gujarat did not win a single medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, whereas eight players from Punjab won medals in hockey. He added that Punjab has villages like Sansarpur that have produced multiple medal-winning athletes from a single village. He demanded that sports grants be allocated to states based on their sporting performance. He further said that India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, but the Central Government has not made any demand for sports in the supplementary grants this time.

Chandigarh, December 15:

To protect wildlife in Punjab and to curb crimes related to it, under the directions issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab Shri Basanta Raj Kumar, IFS, Shri Satinder Kumar Sagar, IFS (Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife); and Shri Vishal Chauhan, IFS (Conservator of Forests, Parks and Protected Circle), and following the zero-tolerance policy against wildlife crime, the Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division Phillaur, Shri Vikram Singh Kundra, IFS, constituted a team on the basis of secret information regarding trafficking of wildlife parts.

The team was formed under the leadership of Shri Jaswant Singh, Range Officer, Jalandhar, and included Nirmaljit Singh (Block Officer), Malkiat Singh (Forest Guard), Navtej Singh Bath from Jalandhar Range, and Ranjit Singh (Block Officer), Bobinder Singh and Ranbir Singh Uppal from Kapurthala Range.

The team laid a trap in Nakodar, where one of the team members acted as a customer and struck a deal with the trafficker. At the spot, Bony Arora, son of Bharat Bhushan, resident of Nakodar, arrived to deliver the material and was immediately arrested by the team. From his possession, two cut pieces of sambar antlers, six pieces of “hathajodi,” and the parts of a wild cat were recovered.

During interrogation, Bony Arora disclosed that this material had been sent to him by Shivam Gupta, son of Gulshan Rai, resident of Nakodar, who runs a shop named “Durga Dass Pansari.” The team immediately conducted a raid at Shivam Gupta’s shop and questioned him. He admitted that he was involved in the business of wildlife parts and that he himself had sent the material to Bony Arora for delivery. He further disclosed that he purchased this material from Deepak alias Kala, son of Vijay Kumar Gupta, resident of Nakodar, District Jalandhar, who runs a shop named “Valaiti Ram Pansari and Grocery Store” in Nakodar.

The team immediately raided the shop of Deepak alias Kala and recovered two cut pieces of sambar antlers and one “hathajodi” from his possession. During interrogation, Deepak alias Kala admitted that he had supplied this material to Shivam Gupta.

The team arrested all three accused along with the recovered items and produced them at Police Station Nakodar, where an FIR was registered against them under the relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amended 2003).

On this occasion, Range Officer Shri Jaswant Singh stated that trading in wildlife parts is a punishable offence, and no person involved in such illegal activities will be spared. Strict legal action will be taken against them, and further investigation is ongoing to identify other accused connected with this case.

Chandigarh:

Well-known authors of children’s books and renowned storytellers are participating in the ‘Paper Trails Literary Fest- 2025’ organised by FirstSteps School at the school’s Sec 26 premises.

The children’s literature writers and storytellers interacted with the media on the side-lines of the lit fest which is on till Dec 17. Those who spoke to reporters included prolific children’s literature writer Asha Nehemiah, Meghaa Gupta whose children’s books have been critically acclaimed, Vidya Mani – who creates children’s books and magazines for publishers and the versatile writer & storyteller Shyam Madhavan Sarada Aka Greystroke.Deeptha Vivekanand a renowned storyteller too was present.  The children’s literature experts were joined by Japji Cheema, Chairperson, FirstSteps School, who shared the school’s perspective on the lit fest. The school’s Principal, Jasbir Kaur also interacted with the media. 

Japji Cheema said, “This Literary fest aims to bring books, authors, and young readers together, turning solitary reading into a shared experience. The festival will see story telling sessions, illustration activity for book covers, book readings and more, by leading children’s literature authors and storytellers.”

Principal of the school Jasbir Kaur said,“We are an International Baccalaureate(IB)school. We move beyond rote memorization to deep conceptual understanding and real-world application. The lit fest is an activity in the direction of making children aware about the importance of reading & writing through interactions with real world experts. I am happy to announce from this platform that we are soon coming up with an IB School in Panchkula too.”

Asha Nehemiah who has authored a bevy of children’s books like ‘The Rajah’s Moustache’; ‘Granny’s Sari’; ‘Mrs Woolly’s Funny Sweaters’; ‘Thieves and AHA! Adventures’ among many more shared her views about the importance of lit fests focused particularly on children.

Meghaa Gupta who is known for her history series on Independent India published by Penguin Random House expressed her joy at being a part of ‘Paper Trails’.

Vidya Mani who is an editor and children’s writer, runs a content and design studio called ‘Melting Pot’. She has edited children’s magazines like Chatterbox, Quest, Junior Quest, Hoot and Toot. Vidya spoke about her interactions with children about the importance of literature to build a strong foundation.  

Shyam Madhavan Sarada Aka Greystroke who is an illustrator, cartoonist, art director, publisher and his book Wailers Three, published by Pratham Books, is a CBSE recommended reader for English for the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. An established writer & storyteller he said that the lit fest is a great way to popularise the habits of reading and writing among young learners.

On Dec 15, Vidya and Greystroke conducted a magazine illustration workshop. There was story telling by Deeptha Vivekanand – a professional storyteller and educator On Dec 16 Kapil Pandey, an international storyteller, will conduct a storytelling session. On Dec 17 Greystroke will do a story-telling workshop and Dec 17 itself Punjabi day will also be observed. Asha Nehemiah and Meghaa Gupta too conducted literary sessions during the festival. Shiraz Saini, a multifaceted and naturally gifted storyteller, too participated in the lit fest.

It is noteworthy that school students have participated in poetry and writing activities all month long and have also prepared a showcase to exhibit their enquiry cycle based on literature. What’s more, a Travelling Children’s Bookshop by Funky Rainbow has put up books – especially of the authors, illustrators and storytellers visiting the school for the lit fest.

Chandigarh , December 15: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the role of the police extends beyond merely controlling crime; it also involves instilling a sense of security, trust and faith in justice among the common citizens. He emphasized that public trust is the greatest asset of any democracy.

The Chief Minister was presiding over a state-level security conference on the theme “Viksit Bharat – Security Dimensions”, held today in Panchkula.

The conference was attended by Director Generals of Police, Additional Directors General of Police, Inspectors General of Police, Police Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, representatives of the Government of India, and several other senior officers.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government firmly believes that sustained development is possible only when the law and order situation remains strong, fair and impartial. He emphasized that the success of major initiatives in investment, industry, education, health and social development is directly linked to the efficiency, integrity and professional competence of the police force.

Addressing the officers present, he stated that they are not only the custodians of law and order but also the strong foundation of good governance and social stability in the State. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also lauded the courage, dedication and discipline of every jawan and officer of the Haryana Police, who are working tirelessly, day and night, in the field.

He said that Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi had participated in the 60th All India Conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police, held in Raipur in November last year. The three-day conference was organised on the theme “Viksit Bharat – Security Dimensions.” The Chief Minister said that the ideas and guidance provided by the Prime Minister during the conference serve as guiding principles for all, and are giving a new direction to police strategy at the state level.

Referring to Operation Hotspot Domination, the Chief Minister said that over the past few years, the Haryana Police has achieved significant success against inter-state gangs, drug traffickers and cybercriminals. Under this operation, more than 2,000 criminals were arrested within 12 days. He further said that Operation Track Town has also created a strong deterrent effect among criminals. Under this operation, 7,587 criminals were sent to jail in 23 days, and illegal property worth Rs. 168 crore was seized.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the present era is driven by technology, and it is imperative for the police to remain updated with advanced technological tools. He issued necessary directions for the installation of CCTV cameras at crime-sensitive locations across the state. Emphasizing public expectations, he said that whenever an incident occurs, people look towards the system for justice, and it is our collective responsibility to uphold this trust.

The Chief Minister further stressed the need for concrete and sustained efforts towards de-addiction in society. He said that while strict action is being taken to curb drug abuse, creating widespread public awareness is equally important. Under the de-addiction campaign, the government has been organizing cyclothons, marathons, and other awareness programmes from time to time, which are yielding encouraging results.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra said that 108 recommendations were made during the DG/IG Conference held last year, and almost all of them have been successfully implemented. She informed that 107 new recommendations have been made this year as well, which will be completed within the stipulated time frame. Dr. Misra further said that Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini has made a historic announcement to increase the representation of women police personnel in the state from 15 percent to 25 percent, reflecting the government’s strong commitment towards women empowerment and inclusive policing.

She informed that the recruitment process for 5,750 police personnel is currently underway, which includes the recruitment of 950 women police personnel. In addition, the state government has also approved the recruitment of 550 additional women constables in the police force.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Police Sh O.P. Singh emphasized the critical role of technology in effectively addressing crime-related challenges. He said that in the present times, technological tools such as CCTV cameras have proved instrumental in solving several major cases and strengthening policing outcomes.

The DGP assured that the Haryana Police will make a meaningful and sustained contribution towards realizing the vision of a Developed India by 2047. He further expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the police force will continue to perform its duties with dedication, professionalism and commitment to public service.

Chandigarh, December 15 – The Haryana Government has issued orders for the transfer and posting of 8 IAS and 24 HCS officers with immediate effect.

Sh. Yogesh Kumar, who was serving as Secretary, HAFED, and Additional Director (Administration), Hospitality Department, has been appointed as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Karnal and District Municipal Commissioner, Karnal.

Subitha Dhaka, awaiting posting orders, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Palwal.

Jaideep Kumar, who was serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Palwal, has been appointed as Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

Sonu Bhatt, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, CEO Zila Parishad and DRDA, Karnal, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Gurugram. He has also been given the additional charge of Additional Managing Director, HSIIDC, and CEO, Global City Project, Gurugram.

Vivek Arya, serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer and CEO, Zila Parishad and DRDA, Jind, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Kurukshetra.

Abhinav Siwach, who was serving as Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Pehowa, has been posted as Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Bahadurgarh.

Among HCS officers, Vatsal Vashishth, who was serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Gurugram, has been posted as OSD-1 to the Chief Secretary.

Yogesh Kumar Mehta, who was serving as Additional Director (Administration) and Special Secretary in the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Karnal.

Pradeep Kumar-2, who was serving as Special Officer (Sanitation), Rohtak, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Jind.

Dr. Sushil Kumar-2, who was serving as District Municipal Commissioner, Jhajjar, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Kaithal.

Virat, who was serving as OSD to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Ambala, and Special Officer, APZ, Ambala, in addition to his present duties.

Tarun Kumar Pawaria, who was serving as Joint Secretary in the General Administration, Foreign Cooperation and Coordination Department, has been appointed as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mahendragarh.

Gaurav Kumar, Additional Director (Administration) and Joint Secretary in the Secondary Education Department, has been appointed as Secretary, State Election Commission, Haryana.

Bharat Bhushan Gogia, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Gurugram, has been posted as Additional Director, MSME Department.

Richa, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as Additional Director (Admn), Secondary Education and Joint Secretary, School Education Department.

Major (Retd.) Gayatri Ahlawat, who was serving as General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Fatehabad, has been appointed as General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Gurugram.

Pradeep Ahlawat-2, who was serving as Special Officer (Sanitation), Manesar, has been appointed as SDO (Civil), Tosham.

Sumeet Sihag, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as Joint Director, Consolidation of Land Holdings, and Deputy Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

Similarly, Pradeep Kumar-3 has been transferred from Special Officer (Sanitation), Panipat, and appointed as SDO (Civil), Karnal.

Anil Kumar Yadav has been transferred from Special Officer (Sanitation), Yamunanagar, and appointed as SDO (Civil), Indri.

Sushil Kumar-4, Joint Director (Administration), Food and Drug Administration, and Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies, has been appointed as CEO, Zila Parishad and DRDA, Yamunanagar, and Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies.

Dheeraj Chahal, Joint Director, MSME, has been posted as Joint Director, Mining and Geology Department.

Anil Kumar Doon has been transferred from Special Officer (Sanitation), Sonipat, and appointed as SDO (Civil), Pehowa.

Ankita Adhikari, who was serving as Registrar, Haryana State Pharmacy Council, has been given the additional charge of Joint Labour Commissioner (Administration), Labour Department, in addition to her present duties.

Apratim Singh, City Magistrate, Palwal, has been appointed as SDO (Civil), Hathin.

Preeti Rawat, City Magistrate, Charkhi Dadri, has been appointed as City Magistrate, Palwal.

Suresh, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as Joint Director (Administration), Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar (Nuh).

Posting orders of Dr. Vaishali Sharma and Ravi Meena (IAS) and Ashok Kumar and Naseeb Kumar (HCS) will be issued separately.

Chandigarh, December 15 – Haryana has taken a major step towards strengthening public safety and improving ease of governance with the notification of comprehensive new guidelines for the issuance and renewal of Fire Safety Certificates (FSC). The policy, framed under the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022, introduces a technology-driven, transparent, and time-bound mechanism, setting a new benchmark in fire safety administration and was formally notified on December 9, 2025.

Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Dr. Sumita Misra said the new system aims to ensure faster service delivery without compromising on safety standards. The policy introduces an Empanelled Agency system along with an automated online approval process, significantly reducing procedural delays.

*Automatic Online Approval with Built-In Oversight*

Under the revised procedure, Fire Safety Certificates—both for new applications and renewals—will be issued automatically through an online portal once the application is supported by a certification report from an Empanelled Agency. This reform is expected to substantially cut down inspection-related bottlenecks and enhance predictability for applicants.

To ensure transparency and impartiality, the Empanelled Agency assigned for inspection will be selected randomly by the online system for the concerned division. At the same time, the policy retains strong government oversight. A mandatory physical verification of 25 per cent cases by a Fire Officer and 10 per cent cases by the Joint Director (Technical) will be carried out on a random basis within 30 days of certificate issuance.

*Higher Standards for Fire Safety Audits*

The policy places strong emphasis on professional competence. Empanelled Agencies must meet stringent eligibility criteria, including the requirement that the lead member possesses a Bachelor of Engineering (Fire) or equivalent qualification, along with a minimum of four years’ experience in fire protection systems or service in a government fire department.

These agencies will conduct comprehensive fire safety audits, including assessment of fire hazards, electrical safety, verification of active systems such as sprinklers and hydrants, evaluation of passive fire protection measures, and review of staff training and emergency preparedness.

By delegating detailed technical audits to qualified professionals, the government aims to ensure strict compliance with the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022 and the National Building Code of India, 2016, thereby enhancing safety standards across public and private buildings.

The new policy is scheduled to be fully implemented by March 31, 2026, marking a significant reform in Haryana’s fire safety regulatory framework.

Chandigarh, December 15 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state’s mandis must be transformed into models of excellence by placing farmer service at the highest priority, so that they can be emulated across the country. He emphasized the need for complete honesty and transparency in the collection of market fees and for strengthening trust among farmers. The objective, he said, is to develop Haryana’s mandis into the most modern, transparent and farmer-friendly market system in India.

The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting with the newly appointed office-bearers of the Marketing Board here today. The meeting was attended by the chairmen and vice-chairmen of market committees, State President Sh Mohan Lal Badoli, General Secretary (Organisation) Sh Phanindra Nath Sharma, State General Secretary Sh Surender Punia, Dr. Archana Gupta, Chief Minister’s OSD Sh B.B. Bharti and several senior officials.

The Chief Minister said that the foundation of the Marketing Board’s functioning lies in ensuring the prosperity of farmers and strengthening the state’s economy. He said that the mandi system is the most effective mechanism for ensuring fair prices and safeguarding farmers’ hard-earned income. When farmers are empowered, he added, Haryana becomes stronger.

He further remarked that market committees are not merely government offices, but vital power centers of the rural economy. Therefore, their efficient management is of utmost importance. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen trust and reliability between farmers and traders. He said that the aim is to create a system in the mandis where farmers receive accurate measurements, fair prices, and timely payments as soon as they bring their produce, and traders get quality products and a better environment for doing business.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini appreciated the commendable progress made by market committees in adopting digital reforms over the past few years. He noted the successful implementation of e-procurement and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which ensures that payments for farmers’ crops are credited directly to their bank accounts on time. By eliminating the role of middlemen, farmers are now receiving the full value of their hard work.

The Chief Minister emphasized that every process—from issuing gate passes to the collection of market fees—must be made fully digital to enhance transparency and eliminate corruption. Greater use of technology, he said, is essential for strengthening the system.

He informed that all 24 crops are being procured from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). So far, Rs 1.64 lakh crore has been deposited into the accounts of nearly 12 lakh farmers for crop procurement. From the Kharif season of 2024, farmers have been receiving payment within 48 hours of the issuance of the gate pass through DBT. He also said that work is being accelerated to improve basic facilities such as sheds, drinking water, toilets, and rest houses in mandis across the state.

The Chief Minister stated that providing cold storage facilities near farm gates for fruit and vegetable growers is a top priority of the government. He directed market committee officials to prioritize proposals for establishing cold storage units under the PPP model in their respective areas. He also stressed the need to improve road connectivity and carry out timely repairs of roads leading to mandis so that farmers can bring their produce without difficulty.

He said that the working style and conduct of market committee employees reflect the true image of the mandi system. Therefore, employees must remain sensitive to farmers’ needs. Proper training should be provided on the latest government policies, use of e-portals, and courteous communication with farmers.

The Chief Minister proposed launching a new initiative titled “Harit Mandi, Khushaal Farmer.” Under this initiative, separate and strengthened sections for fruits and vegetables should be developed alongside traditional crop markets. He also called for the establishment of farmer assistance centers in every mandi, where grievances are registered immediately and resolved promptly, ensuring that farmers do not have to make repeated visits to offices.

He further directed market committees to adopt solar energy to meet their electricity requirements, which would reduce power costs and contribute to environmental conservation. He also emphasized promoting green energy and making rainwater harvesting structures mandatory in mandis to prevent water wastage.

The Chief Minister said that farmers practicing natural farming should be given special space and priority in mandis to sell their produce, as this form of farming represents the future and should be actively encouraged. He also stressed the need to ensure safe and dedicated spaces for women farmers and women traders, and to promote greater participation of women in the economic system.

He said that maintaining cleanliness in the mandis is a collective responsibility. Regular cleanliness drives should be conducted, and strict action must be taken against those who litter. A clean market is beneficial for both business and public health, he added.

Chandigarh, December 15: Large-scale irregularities have come to light in the Chandigarh Tourism Department following a question raised in the Lok Sabha by Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Manish Tewari.

MP Tewari revealed that expenditure shown in the name of tourism-related activities in Chandigarh is highly startling. Over the last three financial years, an amount of ₹33.26 crore was reportedly spent on tourism activities. Of this total, nearly one-third—₹11.84 crore—was paid to artists and other vendors, while there is no clear accounting for the remaining approximately ₹22 crore.

He alleged that both the Central Government and the Chandigarh Administration deliberately avoided giving a direct answer to his question seeking details of payments made—specifically, which artist was paid, for which event, and how much. No explanation was provided regarding the utilisation of the remaining ₹22 crore-plus amount after payments to artists and vendors. It remains unclear as to which activities this substantial sum was spent on.

In this regard, MP Tewari has demanded a comprehensive and detailed account of the entire expenditure from the Tourism Sub-Committee of the Chandigarh Administration’s Advisory Committee. He also called for an investigation into whether any such tourism activities were actually conducted in Chandigarh that could justify such massive expenditure.

Emphasising accountability, Tewari stated that this is public money and its utilisation must be transparent.

It is noteworthy that MP Tewari had raised a question in the Lok Sabha regarding expenditure on tourism-related activities in Chandigarh and their audit. In response, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat clarified that the Central Government does not directly allocate any budget to the Chandigarh Administration’s Tourism Department. However, financial assistance is provided for organising fairs and festivals. Under this head, a budget of ₹33.26 crore was earmarked over a three-year period. The Minister further stated that all such expenditures are regularly audited by the Central Audit Office under the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Chandigarh, December 15, 2025

The National Gatka Refresher Course concluded on a high note with the successful conduct of a written examination by the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), marking a decisive step towards professionalising officiating standards in the traditional martial sport. The test formed the basis for grading and certification of Gatka officials, a process that will now determine their eligibility to officiate national level competitions.
Addressing the gathering at the valedictory session, NGAI president Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal said the certification exercise was aimed at ensuring uniform interpretation of rules, strengthening technical competence and reinforcing discipline and fairness during tournaments. “Only certified referees and judges, assessed through structured theory and practical evaluation, will henceforth be entrusted with officiating responsibilities at national championships and major events” he added.
Gatka promoter Grewal said the refresher course and examination were part of a long-term roadmap to elevate Gatka officiating to international benchmarks. He announced that the next National Gatka Refresher Course will be organised in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh in January in association with the New Gatka Sports Association Chhattisgarh. Grewal further revealed that similar Gatka programmes would be rolled out in other parts of the country to widen the pool of trained and certified officials.
In another key announcement, Grewal informed that the amended fifth edition of the World Gatka Federation International Rules Book would be published shortly. The updated edition, he said, reflects recent reforms and practical insights gained from national and international competitions and will serve as the authoritative reference for players, officials and organisers.
Participants from different states lauded the initiative, describing the course as a rare and valuable learning experience. Aman Singh of Chhattisgarh, Pandurang Ambhure from Maharashtra, Gurwinder Singh Ghanouli of Punjab and Harnam Singh from Haryana said the blend of detailed theoretical inputs and hands-on practical sessions had significantly enhanced their understanding of officiating protocols, competition management and decision making on the field.
Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Vice Chairman of the International Sikh Martial Art Council said the NGAI has signalled a clear shift towards structured governance, accountability and professionalism in Gatka, setting the stage for more disciplined and globally aligned competitions in the years ahead.
Harjinder Kumar, NGAI General Secretary and Baljit Singh, Joint Secretary of the Gatka Association of Punjab collectively underlined the need for continuous capacity building to keep pace with Gatka’s growing national and international footprint.