Chandigarh / 9th, December.

The General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja Reacting strongly to the allegations of appeasement made by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha against Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. Kumari Selja said that the statement is contrary to historical facts and is misleading. The MP urged the Prime Minister to respect the dignity of Parliament and present a fact-based discourse.

In a statement released to the media, MP Kumari Selja said that such remarks appear to be an attempt to undermine the immense contribution made by Pandit Nehru in nation-building. She said that Nehru played an exceptional and decisive role in strengthening India’s democratic institutions, constitutional framework, and national unity. Terming the Prime Minister’s allegations baseless, Selja said that history stands witness to the fact that top leaders of the BJP themselves have praised Jinnah. The statement made in Karachi in 2005 and the positive references about Jinnah in a book published in 2009 stand as evidence.

Kumari Selja said that the Congress has always placed national interest, national symbols, and cultural consciousness above everything else. Kumari Selja reminded that on 24 January 1950, it was the first government of independent India when Pandit Nehru was Prime Minister that decided to grant the status of National Song to ‘Vande Mataram. Selja said that when leaders within the BJP who praise Jinnah continue to hold important positions, levelling allegations against the Congress on issues of nationalism appears to be driven by political malice. Kumari Selja again urged the Prime Minister to uphold the dignity of Parliament and present fact-based discussions.

:-The birthday wishes extended by Kumari Selja to Sonia Gandhi.

MP Kumari Selja extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and an inspiration for democratic values. She said that Sonia Gandhi’s commitment to the Constitution, social justice, and public service has always been inspiring. Kumari Selja prayed for Sonia Gandhi’s good health, long life, and continued energy in the service of the nation.

Chandigarh, December 9 – Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi today visited the Budhanpur Play School and the Anganwadi centres located in Ramgarh and Barwala, and reviewed the facilities available for children. He also interacted with the Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Women and Child Development Department’s Commissioner and Secretary Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi and Director of the Department Dr. Priyanka Soni were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Secretary inspected Bal Vatika-1 being run for children aged three to four years and Bal Vatika-2 for children aged four to five years at Budhanpur Play School, and took detailed information regarding children’s education, nutrition and play activities. He was informed that children are imparted education through play-based learning. Various daily activities focusing on language development, social, cultural, creative and intellectual aspects are conducted to ensure their holistic development. Nutritious food is also provided to children to ensure good health.

During the visit, the Chief Secretary also reviewed Bal Vatika-3 and the Anganwadi centre being run for students of Classes 5 and 6, and interacted with the children. The children were delighted to have the Chief Secretary among them and even recited poems.

Thereafter, Sh. Anurag Rastogi inspected the Anganwadi centres at Ramgarh and Barwala and reviewed the basic and other facilities available there. While interacting with the Anganwadi workers and helpers, he said that along with taking care of children, they should also assess their talent and help talented children progress further according to their interests. The Chief Secretary was also informed that information related to the opening of Anganwadi centres, children’s activities and nutrition is uploaded on the ‘Poshan Tracker’ app, which can be viewed through dashboards at the state, district and block levels.

On this occasion, Joint Directors of the Women and Child Development Department Smt. Rajbala Kataria and Smt. Poonam Raman, Programme Officer Smt. Kamlesh Rana, District Programme Officer Dr. Savita Nehra and Project Officer Smt. Aaru Vashisht were also present.

Chandigarh, December 9: Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, while addressing an interactive session held today at PM Shri Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Barwala, gave girl students the core mantra of competing with oneself, helping others, and always following the path of truth and integrity in life.

During the nearly one-hour session, the Chief Secretary answered questions from the students and guided them on how to move forward in life. He said that students should work hard, have faith in themselves, and contribute to nation-building by becoming responsible citizens. On this occasion, Director, Secondary Education, Sh. Jitender Kumar was also present.

Sharing experiences from his own academic life, the Chief Secretary said that students should never be afraid of struggle. He stated that he himself reached this position only through struggle. Referring to the famous quote, “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently,” he advised students to try to perform every task in the best possible manner. He further suggested developing the habit of addressing the most serious problem first and facing challenges with courage.

Emphasizing self-competition, the Chief Secretary advised students to strive to give their best performance without being influenced by others. If they feel any shortcomings, they should work to overcome them. He said that whenever someone needs help, it should always be extended, as helping others generates positive energy that supports personal growth.

While stressing that truth and good intentions should form the foundation of life, Sh. Rastogi said it is extremely important for students to maintain the trust of their teachers and fellow students. He urged students to build such strong character that their credibility remains intact wherever they go. He also advised them to make sports a part of their daily routine, stating that only a healthy and fit body enables effective learning.

Describing willpower as the key to success, the Chief Secretary said that without willpower, no one else can help a person move ahead in life. He encouraged students to choose role models who continuously motivate and inspire them.

Speaking on the importance of teachers, Sh. Anurag Rastogi said that teachers play a vital role in students’ success. The more respect students give to their teachers, the greater knowledge they gain. Teachers not only impart academic knowledge but also help students choose careers based on their interests and abilities.

The programme was attended by District Education Officer Smt. Sandhya Malik, Block Education Officer Sh. Joginder Lather, Principal of PM Shri Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Barwala, Smt. Sunita, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Barwala, Smt. Suman Sharma, along with other school staff.

Chandigarh, December 9 – The High Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) meeting, chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Tuesday approved the procurement of critical materials and services worth approximately Rs 3,300 crore. Proposals from various departments were discussed in detail during the meeting, and negotiations with bidders led to savings of about Rs 127 crore, further strengthening the state government’s financial management.

Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goyal, Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana, Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa, Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Chaudhary, and Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar were also present at the meeting.

The committee approved the procurement of 41 BS-VI standard trucks for the police department to further enhance law and order capabilities. Additionally, several significant proposals related to energy and power distribution were approved, including the purchase of approximately 27,000 16 kVA distribution transformers and the repair of damaged 25, 63, and 100 kVA transformers with aluminum windings.

The committee also approved a key proposal related to energy production, authorizing the supply of 3.55 lakh metric tons of agro-residue-based torrefied biomass pellets to Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited’s thermal power plants for a period of one year. More than 50 percent of the raw material will comprise paddy crop residue. In addition, the committee cleared an annual rate contract for the Department of New and Renewable Energy to supply and install 20,000 solar street lights across the state.

Another major decision included the approval of a proposal to procure modern IT equipment for the State Network Management Center as well as District and Block Network Management Centers. This initiative aims to enhance digital infrastructure, enabling high-speed network connectivity for various government departments through advanced technologies. The upgrade will make Haryana’s e-governance systems more efficient, secure and responsive.

In addition, the committee approved an annual contract for the purchase of approximately 5,000 LED/TV sets for government schools to support the smooth functioning of the digital education system and promote digital learning. Approval was also granted for the selection of a system integrator for 391 ATL and robotics laboratories across the state. These labs will focus on astronomy, tinkering, and robotics, aiming to foster innovation and scientific temper among students.

Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Education) Vineet Garg, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta, Director General of Police O.P. Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation) Vijendra Kumar, Principal Secretary (Energy) Shyamal Mishra, Commissioner and Secretary (Finance) Mohammad Shayin, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, Director General (Supplies and Disposal) Pankaj, along with administrative secretaries of the concerned departments were also present.

Chandigarh, December 9 – The UK Deputy High Commissioner to India, Ms. Alba Smeriglio, called on Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini at his residence on Tuesday. During the meeting, important discussions were held regarding leading British universities opening their campuses in Haryana. This initiative will create new opportunities for world-class education, advanced skills and employment for the youth of the state.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, India is steadily moving towards self-reliance and is on course to become a developed nation by the year 2047. In this journey, artificial intelligence and education will play a crucial role. Advancing towards this vision, the Haryana Government is continuously working to make Haryana a global education hub and is making concerted efforts to facilitate the establishment of campuses of foreign universities in the state. The entry of British universities into Haryana will give a new dimension to the state’s international academic identity.

On this occasion, Ms. Alba Smeriglio appreciated the initiatives being undertaken by the Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and expressed her commitment to working together on various projects in the future.

The meeting also included detailed discussions on the demand for skilled labour in the United Kingdom and the employment and career opportunities available for youth from Haryana. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and undertake joint initiatives for training and selection of young professionals.

In addition, investment possibilities in key sectors such as automobiles, aviation, agriculture and defence equipment were also deliberated upon. The Chief Minister apprised the UK delegation of Haryana’s policies, industrial infrastructure and the state’s excellent investment climate, and invited British investors to invest in Haryana.

The meeting was organised by Haryana’s Department of Foreign Cooperation, during which extensive discussions were held to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Amneet P. Kumar, and Advisor, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Sh. Pawan Choudhary were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, December 9 – A meeting of the High-Powered Works Purchase Committee (Urban Local Bodies), chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, was held on Tuesday, during which 22 agenda items of the Urban Local Bodies Department were placed before the Committee. Of these, 18 works worth more than Rs 157 crore were approved. Savings of approximately Rs 7.91 crore were achieved during the meeting.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini approved works worth Rs 13.70 crore for door-to-door garbage collection and maintaining cleanliness in 11 municipalities and municipal councils. These include works in Panipat for cleaning sewer lines using the latest technology and improving blocked pipelines. In addition, approval was granted for works related to proper disposal of waste and strengthening sanitation systems under Solid Waste Management in several municipalities including Siwani, Hisar and Barwala.

During the meeting, works were also allotted to streamline and strengthen sanitation systems in the municipal corporations, municipalities and municipal councils of Bawal, Palwal, Hansi, Jind, Sohna, Pataudi, Jhajjar, Hodal, Gurugram, Bandhwari and Rohtak.

The Chief Minister directed that complete cleanliness be ensured in all urban local bodies and that officers regularly monitor the works. He said that all vendors must use e-rickshaws, tractors, dumpers and other resources strictly as per prescribed standards and ensure that there is no negligence in door-to-door garbage collection. He emphasized regular segregation of household waste followed by proper disposal. Commendation certificates will be awarded to those doing good work, while strict action will be taken against vendors who fail to perform their duties properly.

The meeting was attended by Urban Local Bodies Minister Sh. Vipul Goel, Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Director General of the Urban Local Bodies Department Sh. Ashok Meena, Commissioner and Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, Mohammed Shayin, along with senior officers of the Urban Local Bodies Department.

CHANDIGARH, December 9:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Tuesday carried out a special operation ‘OPS Seal-XXIII’ aimed at checking all the vehicles entering or exiting the border state of Punjab to keep vigil around anti-social elements, drug traffickers and bootleggers.

          During the operation, conducted simultaneously in all the districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, all the SSPs of border districts were directed to organise joint Naka operations at strategic places in their respective districts and mobilise a maximum number of manpower to lay strong ‘nakas’ at sealing points under the supervision of Gazetted officers/SHOs.

          Sharing details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that well-coordinated strong nakas involving over 600 Police Personnel were set up under the supervision of Inspectors/DSPs at least 65 entry/exit points of 10 districts, which share boundaries with four border states and UT Chandigarh. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupanagar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda.

          He said that as many as 1182 vehicles entering/exiting the state were checked, of which 234 were challaned and two were impounded during the operation. Police teams have also registered five FIRs and arrested three persons during the operation.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its cordon and search operation (CASO) against drugs on Day 283, and conducted raids at 346 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 95 drug smugglers after registration of 68 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 39,864 within 283 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 1.5 kg heroin, 429 grams opium, 6 kg ganja, 21 kg poppy husk and Rs 2.95 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 70 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 340 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 40 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, December 9:

High-Impact Investment Road show by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on concluding day of his South Korea visit saw massive participation by leading industrial giants, who evinced their keen interest in investing in the state.

Addressing the galaxy of business leaders, the Chief Minister highlighted Punjab’s transformation into a stable, transparent, and future-ready investment destination. He said that Punjab’s robust industrial ecosystem, reliable and cost-competitive power, peaceful labour relations, a talented, resilient and hardworking workforce, coupled with seamless connectivity to major markets makes it a most preferable investment destination. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that Punjab’s governance model places the investor at the centre, ensuring predictability, efficiency, and full support throughout the business lifecycle.

The Chief Minister emphasized Punjab’s vision to build technology-driven, innovation-led, and mutually beneficial partnerships with South Korea across priority sectors. He reinforced the commitment of the Punjab government to welcome South Korean companies, promoting innovation-led industrial development, and building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there is a huge scope for collaboration in varied sectors like manufacturing, technology, food processing, and research.

Sharing his vision, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to build a future of shared prosperity through strong economic and cultural ties. He said that Punjab is a land known for courage, resilience, hard work, entrepreneurship, creativity, and a strong sense of community adding that the state has always played a major role in India’s development especially in making the country self-reliant in food production. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today Punjab is moving forward with a renewed vision to become a leading centre for modern industry, technology, and global collaboration.

The Chief Minister also showcased the state’s governance and regulatory reforms, including the FastTrack Punjab single-window system offering 173 services, auto-deemed approvals, PAN-based business identifiers, and amendments to the Punjab Right to Business Act enabling time-bound in-principle approvals. He also highlighted Punjab’s industrial infrastructure adding that over Rs 1.4 lakh crore of on ground investments which have already been facilitated through Invest Punjab. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his vision is simple and clear to make Punjab a preferred destination for global industry by offering stability in policy, speed in decision-making, and a governance system that respects the time and trust of investors.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab’s approach is based on partnership and working closely with industry, by understanding their needs and ensure that the government acts as a catalyst of growth. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has strengthened its infrastructure, expanded its industrial capacity and opened new avenues for investment. He said that partnership between government and industry is key to success and the state government firmly believes that industrial growth can only be achieved when we work as equal partners.

The Chief Minister called upon the investors to join the state at the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from 13–15 March 2026 at the ISB Mohali campus. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the summit will showcase Punjab’s progress, bring together leading industrial players, and present new opportunities for partnership and collaboration. He reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully dedicated to further giving fillip to the industrial development in the state for which no stone will be left unturned.

Meanwhile, buoyed over the red carpet extended by the Chief Minister, the South Korean companies evinced keen interest in investing in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that such investments will not only create employment opportunities for the youth but will also further accelerate the state’s economic growth. He also assured fulsome support and cooperation to the South Korean investors by the state government on all the fronts adding that it is the need of the hour to give further impetus to industrial development in the state.

The Chief Minister said that this high-impact Investment Road show in Seoul as part of its international outreach to forge deeper economic partnerships with South Korea and attract high-quality investments into the state. He said that the event witnessed strong participation from corporate leaders, financial advisors, R&D organizations, trade associations, and members of the Indian and Punjabi Diaspora in Korea. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the road show attracted senior representatives from a wide range of Korean and international organizations, including Bloomberg, BRICS India Trade Pvt. Ltd., leading legal firms Kim & Chang and Shin & Kim LLC, the Korean Association of Senior Scientists and Engineers, KOTRA, Daeyoung Corp., Gawon International Co. Ltd, TagHive, the Punjabi Association of Korea, Inmac Global, among others.

The Chief Minister said that their participation demonstrated strong institutional interest in exploring business opportunities, partnerships, and deeper engagement with Punjab. Assuring them of full facilitation and a supportive business ecosystem, he extended a warm invitation to Korean industry leaders to participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Seoul Roadshow marked an important milestone in Punjab’s international outreach and strengthened the state’s position as a trusted, future-ready destination for global investors.

CHANDIGARH/SAS NAGAR, December 9:

          Marking a transformative leap in tertiary healthcare, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government has scripted history with the successful conduct of the first liver transplant surgery at a state-run institute Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS) in Mohali.

          Presenting the successfully operated patient to the media on Tuesday, Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education and Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh, stated that this is the first time in Punjab’s medical history that such a delicate and complex surgery has been accomplished successfully in a government institute. The Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul.

          He highlighted that this lifesaving intervention was provided to the patient at approximately Rs 12 lakhs, which costs around Rs 45-50 lakhs at the private hospitals. The transplant was performed on November 27, 2025, and the recipient is recovering well, expected to be discharged in a day or two, he added.

          Congratulating the medical team led by Director of PILBS and Professor & Head of Hepatology Dr Virendra Singh and Professor & Head of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Dr K Rajasekhar, the Health Minister termed this a major milestone for the institute.

          Dr Balbir Singh also expressed profound gratitude to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, for providing the organ from a brain-dead person from Haryana. He also extended heartfelt thanks to the donor’s family for their exemplary act of organ donation, which has given a new lease of life to multiple individuals.

          He said that the PILBS continues to expand its role as Punjab’s first dedicated liver and biliary sciences centre, offering comprehensive care, advanced procedures, and 24×7 emergency and ICU services. An upcoming 175-bedded patient care block is also in the pipeline, further expanding the Institute’s capacity and services, he added.

          He said that the newly built Diagnostic Block is now operational with the installation of a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) machine. The supply order for new CT scanner has already been placed, while, the tender process for a new MRI is in progress, and a new automated biochemistry analyser will be fully functional within one week. A state-of-the-art blood bank has also been established, which will be one of the most advanced in Punjab.

 The Institute remains committed to becoming a world-class centre for clinical excellence, research, and training in hepatobiliary sciences.

          The Minister emphasised that the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Government is systematically equipping all Government Medical Colleges with secondary and tertiary care facilities, including existing neuro and cardio labs.

          He announced that Government Medical College, Patiala, is set to become the first state-run facility to offer renal transplantation by the coming year, he said, while adding that furthermore, all government medical colleges will soon be established as organ receiving centres.

          Appealing to the public to pledge for organ donation, Dr Balbir Singh noted that Punjab, currently ranked 9th nationally with 20,000 registered donors, is poised to be among the top states in the country soon.

          Reiterating the government’s commitment to free treatment for all, the Health Minister said that Punjab Government has finalised the agencies for implementing the Rs 10 lakh cashless treatment under Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna and it will be formally launched across the state in January 2026.