Category Archives: Chandigarh

On the directions of Education Minister, Clerk suspended for allegedly demanding bribe

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is continuously working towards providing corruption-free governance to the people of the state.

Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday,   ordered the suspension of a clerk for allegedly demanding a bribe. He said that on Thursday morning someone had lodged a complaint with him that Clerk Arun Kumar posted asvDistrict Education Officer (Secondary) Pathankot, was demanding bribe of Rs 20,000 for doing their genuine work. The complainant had also provided phone conversations between them as evidence to the Minister.

Mr. Bains said that he immediately conducted a preliminary investigation regarding the complaint and the allegations were found to be true.  He immediately ordered D.P.I. (Secondary) to   suspend the clerk Arun Kumar. Departmental orders have already been issued In this regard.

CM ANNOUNCES TO FILL AROUND 2500 POSTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

In a major bonanza for youth of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced to start the process of filling around 2500 posts in the Police department.

Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that as per the ongoing process of providing employment to youth of the state, the Aam Aadmi government will recruit around 2500 more cops in Punjab Police to augment its workforce for effectively maintaining the law and order besides tackling unforeseen challenges. He said that these posts include 1156 of Constables in Intelligence and Investigation cadre, 787 Head Constables in Investigation cadre and 560 posts of Sub Inspectors in Investigation, Intelligence, district and Armed Police cadre. Bhagwant Mann said that while the exam for Constables will be held on October 14, 2022, that of Head Constables will be conducted on October 15, 2022 and that for the post of Sub Inspectors will be held on October 16, 2022.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government has already handed over appointment letters to 4374 constables in the force. He said that more recruitment is in the pipeline and the process will be completed very soon. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to provide employment to youth, Bhagwant Mann said that the entire process of the recruitment is being done in a transparent manner.

The Chief Minister further said that his government is focussing on providing maximum employment to the youth both in public and private sector. He said that till now more than 17,000 job letters have been handed over to the youth and more will be done in the future. Bhagwant Mann said that merit is the single thumb rule for the entire recruitment process.

PUNJAB MINISTER DHALIWAL SEEKS EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT FOR KILLERS OF PUNJABI FAMILY MURDERED IN CALIFORNIA, US

IEP Chandigarh, October 6       

   Expressing deep anguish over murder of four family members including 8-month-old child in California, US, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday has demanded exemplary punishment for the killers, who killed the family after abducting them on Monday.          Talking to media persons outside Punjab Bhawan here today, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed deep sorrow over the gruesome incident and expressed confidence with the relatives of the victim’s family.          The Cabinet Minister has demanded from the Governor of California state and mayor of Merced County in the US that the killers should be arrested at the earliest. He has also appealed that exemplary punishment should be given to the killers so that no one can commit such heinous crimes in the future.          Four members of a family, including an eight-month-old child, hailing from Tanda in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, have been abducted and murdered. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the Punjab Government stands with the family in this hour of grief. He also assured that the Punjab government would take up the matter with full vigour at all levels to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

CM seeks intervention of MEA for probe into gruesome murder of Punjabi family in US

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today sought the kind intervention of Union External Affairs Minister for impressing upon national government of United States of America to conduct through probe into the gruesome murder of Punjabi family in California.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that a Punjabi family hailing from Harsi village of Hoshiarpur district in the state have been murdered in California. He said that as per reports the family was kidnapped and was brutally murdered later on. Bhagwant Mann said that the deceased  have been identified as Jasdeep Singh, Jasleen Kaur, Amandeep Singh and an eight month old baby Ruhi.

The Chief Minister said that this is a highly condemnable incident which has shocked everyone especially the Punjabis living across the globe. Bhagwant Mann said that this brutal murder has raised questions on security of the Punjabis even in advanced nations like US. Seeking the kind intervention of the Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jai Shankar, he urged him to impress upon the national government of United States to thoroughly conduct a probe into the matter.

The Chief Minister said that it is need of hour to instil sense of security amongst the Punjabis living abroad. He said that the Government of India must flag the issue of security of Punjabis living in US with their counterpart in America. Bhagwant Mann said that top most priority must be accorded to this for ensuring safety of the Punjabis living there.

Haryana bags a total of 66 medals including 25 gold

IEP Chandigarh, October 5

The players of Haryana are continuing to prove their mettle in the ongoing 36th National Games in Gujarat. 

Rishabh Yadav, a Haryanavi lad has bagged another gold in the individual compound round in archery today.

Apart from the State’s traditional wrestling sport, the State players have proved their mettle in netball as Haryana emerged as netball champions in the National Games. Both boys and girls teams of the State have bagged gold medals in netball.

In the final match, the netball girls match, the tough competition was held between Haryana and Punjab. The spectators also constantly cheered the players with full enthusiasm. Haryana team won the gold medal by defeating the Punjab team by a margin of 53-49 points.

Similarly, in the final match of the boys’ netball match held between Haryana and Telangana, Haryanvi players defeated Telangana by 75-73 points to bag the gold medal.

Girls Hockey team’s winning streak continues

The daughters of Haryana are giving outstanding performances. The girl’s team is consistently winning the Pool A matches and it is expected that they will win the final match as well to bag another gold for the State.  

In their first match in Pool A, Haryana pulled off a thrilling win over Gujarat by a huge margin of 30-1. 

Haryana scored 4 goals in the first quarter, 8 in the second quarter and 9 each in the third and fourth quarters. Whereas Gujarat’s team could only earn one score in the third quarter.

Similarly, in another match against Odisha, Haryana beat Odisha by 4-0.  Besides this, in today’s match against Uttar Pradesh,  Haryana girls’ hockey team continued their victory streak by defeating Uttar Pradesh by a margin of 5-1.

Haryana bags a total of 66 medals including 25 gold

Haryana bags a total of 66 medals including 25 gold, 22 silver and 19 bronze in the ongoing National Games.

More than 600 players of Haryana are showing their talent in these games. So far, the State players have won 1 gold medal in Archery, 3 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals in athletics, while the state has won 2 gold and 2 silver medals in the cycling event.

Similarly, the State players have won 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals in fencing, 2 bronze medals in kabaddi, 2 gold in netball, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal in rowing, 1 gold medal in rugby, 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals in shooting, 1 silver medal in table tennis, 1 bronze medal in tennis, 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in weightlifting, 12 Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronze medals in wrestling.

Notably, the National Games 2022 is being organized in six cities of Gujarat – Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. Around 7,000 athletes from 28 Indian States, and 8 Union Territories and Services (Teams of the Indian Armed Forces) are competing for medals in 36 different sports. These include traditional Olympic Games as well as indigenous sports of India such as Mallakhamb, Kho-Kho and Kabaddi.

Manohar Lal’s Maximum Governance, Minimum Government vision gets him the Champion of Change Haryana 2021 Award

IEP Chandigarh, October 5

Gone are the days when in Haryana citizens had no choice other than adopting the ‘kharchi-parchi’ system to avail the benefits of welfare schemes, getting jobs, transfers etc.  Since October 26, 2014, when Sh. Manohar Lal sworn in for the first time as Chief Minister of Haryana, gradually digitization became a norm in the functioning of his government.Riding on the strength of his e-kranti, in the last eight years, not only the entire functioning of the State Government has changed but it has certainly played a pivotal role in making Sh. Manohar Lal is the suitable winner of the Champion of Change Haryana 2021 Award.The ‘’Champion of Change’ selection committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and former Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Justice K G Balakrishnan while recognizing the radical changes brought by these e-governance reforms had awarded the Manohar Lal-led government.This was the 5th edition of the organization, in which 25 more personalities, including the Chief Minister, became the motivators of change in various fields, were honoured with the Champion of Change Haryana – 2021 award.Experience gained from serving as in-charge of Antyodaya Cell also became an inspiration for the Chief MinisterNotably, before swearing in as the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal had served as the in-charge of the party’s Antyodaya Cell for a long time and had an opportunity to study the living standards of those living at the bottom of the pyramid. This experience certainly proved instrumental when he envisioned formulating several schemes for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor. In his both consecutive terms, Sh. Manohar Lal pledged to serve the poorest of the poor in the spirit of Antyodaya. While upholding the spirit of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy State Government is ensuring the reach of benefits of welfare schemes to the last mile person.Mukhyamantri Antyodaya ‘Parivar Utthan’ Yojana implemented by the state governmentUnder the Mukhyamantri Antyodaya ‘Parivar Utthan’ Yojana, a total of  861 Antyodaya Melas have been organized in all the 22 districts of Haryana in three phases. Out of 3,35,344 beneficiaries identified and invited to the Melas, 1,36,130 beneficiaries attended these Melas and loans to 32,743 beneficiaries were sanctioned, out of which loans have also been disbursed to 14,000 beneficiaries. In addition, 436 beneficiaries have been linked to private employment and skill development has been provided to 1185 beneficiaries.The Chief Minister strongly believes that poor has the first right on the government, hence the reach of the welfare schemes should be firstly extended to them. Besides this, they should also get an opportunity to contribute in the progress of the state. 

We should move forward in life taking inspiration from the life of ‘Maryada Purushottam’ Lord Rama: CM

IEP Chandigarh, October 5

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal today exhorted  people of the state to move forward in life by taking inspiration from the life of ‘Maryada Purushottam’ Lord Ram, and extended his greetings to the people of the state on Dussehra.   While addressing the Dussehra festival organized by Shri Ramlila Committee Katla at the Mahabir Stadium on Wednesday the chief minister said that in his childhood he had got the opportunity to see Shri Ramlila at Katla and today he has got this privilege again. The Chief Minister said that whether it is Ramayana or Gita Saar Sandesh, the State Government has taken many initiatives to promote them and has ensured that the spiritual message reaches  every nook and corner of the state. He said that India was recognized as a ‘Vishwa Guru’ over a period of time, now once again India’s credibility has increased across the world. He said that foreigners invaded India and tried to distort the culture here, but they could not eliminate the values and traditions established by the sages.

Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that we have got an opportunity to learn something or the other from every aspect of the life of Raja Ramchandra. There is much to be learned from his life as an ideal son, a brother, a father and a husband. He has set many examples of upholding the dignity of ‘Rajdharma’ and ‘Dharma Yudh’. His statement of ‘Seva Paramo Dharma’ is very relevant even today.

After the address, the Chief Minister offered tilak to the artists playing the characters of Ramlila on the stage and offered prayers to them. After this he symbolically burnt the effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, Kumbhakarna. On this occasion Urban Local Bodies Minister, Dr. Kamal Gupta, Deputy Speaker, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Rajya Sabha MP, Sh. DP Vats, Former Minister, Smt. Savitri Jindal, MLA, Sh. Jogi Ram Sihag, Mayor, Sh. Gautam Sardana, BJP District President Captain Bhupendra, Shri Ramlila Committee Katla President, Sh. Surendra along with other dignitaries were present.

For the first time, Punjab crosses 10K crore GST collection in 6 months : Cheema

IEP Chandigarh, October 05

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that Punjab has collected  GST of Rs 10604 crore during the first six months of the current financial year, crossing the 10 K mark for  first time since the implementation of the GST regime.

Issuing a statement here, the Finance Minister said that the state has seen a growth  of 22.6 percent in GST collection in the current financial year as against the same period last year.  He further added that during the first six months of the last financial year GST collection stood at Rs 8650 crore whereas during the current year the state has earned Rs 1954 crore more, taking the  total GST collection to Rs 10604 crore.

Disclosing the GST figures for the month of September 2022, Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state has registered a growth rate of 22 percent. He said that the GST collection for September this year was Rs 1710 crore as compared to the collection of Rs 1402 in September 2021.

The Finance Minister said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has estimated a GST collection of Rs 20,550 crore in its maiden budget for the Financial Year 2022-23. “The state has achieved more than 50 percent in the first six months”, said the Finance Minister while adding that the state is expected to see a healthy growth in GST collection during the upcoming festival season.

The Finance Minister said that the state government has passed the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2022 in the Punjab Assembly to plug all loopholes besides stopping bogus billing which would not only benefit the traders but would also increase the own revenue of the state.

PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS DRONE-BASED ARMS SMUGGLING MODULE; PRISONER AMONG TWO HELD

IEP CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, October 5

The decisive war against anti-social elements waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has delivered yet another victory after Punjab Police on Wednesday busted a drone-based arms/ammunition smuggling module with the arrest of its two members including a prisoner.

Those arrested have been identified as Jaskaran Singh of Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran, currently lodged at Sub Jail Goindwal Sahib, and Rattanbir Singh of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran, out on bail. The Police have also recovered 10 foreign-made pistols including five .30 bore (made in China) and five 9mm (made in USA Beretta) along with 8 spare magazines from both of them, besides a mobile phone concealed by Jaskaran in his barrack.

AIG Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar Amarjit Singh Bajwa said that accused Jaskaran Singh was brought on a production warrant in a case pertaining to NDPS act, which was registered at SSOC Amritsar in August 2022.

During questioning, Accused Jaskaran confessed that he was using a mobile phone in jail to contact Pak-based smugglers through WhatsApp for smuggling of narcotics and arms/ammunition from Pakistan via drones.

The AIG said that for this purpose the accused was taking the help of Rattanbir, who used to retrieve the consignments dropped via drones from different border areas. Pertinently, Rattanbir is also a co-accused in various NDPS cases with Jaskaran Singh.

He said that one consignment of five .30 bore pistols along with four spare magazines was recovered from the pinpointed location revealed by accused Jaskaran at Village Pidhi on Taran Taran-Ferozepur Road, which was concealed by Rattanbir on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, 2022.

AIG Amarjit Singh Bajwa said that acting on Jaskaran’s inputs, the Police teams of Counter Intelligence Amritsar have also managed to arrest Rattanbir from Khemkaran and on his disclosure five more Pistols of 9 MM were recovered along with four spare magazines, which were concealed by him near drain at village Machhike in Khemkaran.

Meanwhile, a case FIR No. 30 dated 04.10.2022 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

Vigilance Bureau arrests FCI retired employees taking bribe Rs 10,000

IEP Chandigarh October 5

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its anti-corruption campaign, has nabbed Shankar Shah, a labour handling incharge (retired) of FCI, Nakodar, district Jalandhar for accepting bribe of Rs 10,000.

Giving this information here today, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau (VB) said the accused labour incharge has been arrested on the complaint of Ms Shama, of village Maheru, Jalandhar. In this regard a case has been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Jalandhar. Further investigation in this case is under progress and role of other officials of the FCI, if any, involved in this case would also be probed.

Revealing the details, he informed that the complainant has alleged in his complaint that the above mentioned retired labour incharge was demanding bribe in lieu of helping her to get back the arrears from FCI after the demise of her father. In addition to this the complainant has submitted that the accused Shankar Shah had already taken Rs 10,000 from her in this regard.

The spokesperson further added that after verification of the facts and the evidence available in this regard a VB team has arrested the accused in the presence of two official witnesses.