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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

IEP SAS Nagar (Mohali), October 5

 On the sacred festival of Dussehra, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today gave a clarion call to people for eradicating the social maladies in the state for restoring its pristine glory. Addressing the gathering here while participating in the Dussehra festivities at Phase 8 organized by the Dussehra Committee Mohali (Regd), the Chief Minister greeted the people of the country especially the Punjabis living across the globe on the sacred occasion of Durga Puja and Dussehra (Vijaydashmi). He said that these two festivals, which symbolize the victory of good over evil, remind us of our rich cultural heritage. Bhagwant Mann said that our nation has an age old tradition of celebrating both these festivals which play a vanguard role in promoting goodwill, peace and communal harmony in the society besides showing us the way of ideal living to carve out an egalitarian and harmonious society.The Chief Minister appealed to the people to collectively celebrate this joyous occasion by rededicating themselves for promotion of peace, amity and brotherhood in the state. He said that all of us must rejoice this festival with full religious fervor and gaiety by rising above the parochial considerations of caste, creed and color. Bhagwant Mann said that these festivals give us a message of togetherness and brotherhood adding that on this day we should vow to make our state frontrunner in the country by getting rid of all the social maladies.Congratulating people on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Punjabis were especially filled with pride over Dussehra, as the epic of Ramayana was written in Punjab, on the land of holy city Amritsar. He said that the festivities of Dussehra inspire us to remain grounded, keep our anger under control and stay away from hate. Bhagwant Mann said that these three factors became the reasons for decline of even the most intelligent person adding that the festivities also teach us to remain with brotherhood.The Chief Minister further said that these festivals are not only sources of our inspiration, but also help us to perpetuate the rich cultural heritage to our coming generations. He said that the true essence of Dusshera lies in fighting against injustice, evil and egoism with love, brotherhood and communal harmony. Bhagwant Mann called upon the people of Punjab to imbibe the teachings of these festivals in their daily lives to take Punjab to unprecedented heights.Meanwhile the Chief Minister also announced to use the Dussehra Ground at Mohali solely for the purpose of Dussehra celebration. He said that no commercial activity will be allowed on this ground. Bhagwant Mann further said that the notification in this regard will be issued very soon.

IEP Chandigarh, October 5

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday batted for better collaboration with Tajikistan in the fields of Academics, Tourism, Trade and Commerce for the welfare of the residents of both.

          Interacting with a high level delegation from Tajikistan, which called on him his official residence today, the Chief Minister said that with the world swiftly emerging as a global village there was a need for acquainting the students about the emerging trends in the education sector. He said that in such a scenario the academic collaboration between the universities, which were temples of education, of the different countries could do wonders in spreading the light of knowledge in every nook and corner of the world besides helping in overall development of the students. Emphasizing the need for frequent student and faculty exchange program between Punjab and Tajikistan, Bhagwant Mann said that it would be very beneficial for the students of the state and Tajikistan.

          The Chief Minister said that it was the need of the hour to update the knowledge of students and upskill the teachers in which such initiatives could play a pivotal role. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab and Tajikistan can initiate measures for starting student and faculty exchange program, in which the state government will provide fulsome support and cooperation to them. He also batted for mutual collaboration in the tourism sector between both Punjab and Tajikistan adding he invited the visiting delegation to be part of the Invest Punjab Summit being held in the state in February 2023.

          Advocating the opening of more trade between Punjab and Tajikistan, the Chief Minister said that it can also be very helpful for promotion of economic activity amongst both of them. Citing an example, he said that Basmati of Punjab has high demand in Tajikistan and its export has enhanced it can transform the destiny of farmers of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government will leave no stone unturned for fostering better ties with Tajikistan in sectors of academic, tourism, trade and commerce.

          Meanwhile the delegation comprising Ubaydullo Aseorzoda from International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship, Tajikistan, Vice Rector Foreign Affairs Jabbrov Fathullo Amrievich, Economist Dr Umarov Khojamahmad, Dean, Technical University, Tajikistan Rustam Cholmatov and others assured the Chief Minister of better bilateral ties between Punjab and Tajikistan.