Chandigarh, 25 June – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini stated that “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” serves as a solemn reminder that the arrogance of power and nepotism are among the biggest threats to democracy. He emphasized that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and it is our paramount duty to uphold and protect it. Any action that undermines or violates its core principles cannot and should not be ignored.

Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini was addressing a press conference held in Karnal today to mark Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. He paid tribute to the brave heroes who stood up against dictatorship during the Emergency, noting that they endured imprisonment and torture but never surrendered their principles. “Today, I salute all those heroes who raised their voices for democracy,” he added.

People were jailed and tortured during the Emergency

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the country is observing ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to mark 50 years since the Emergency was imposed. On June 25, 1975, the soul of the Constitution was attacked when the Emergency was declared, putting our democratic values in danger. Although it was claimed that there was an internal crisis, the real reason was a personal desire to stay in power.

For the next 21 months, the country was under dictatorship. Many people who believed in democracy were put in jail and tortured. Sh Saini said that the purpose of observing Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is to remind people especially the younger generation about the importance of democracy, and to keep everyone aware and alert about protecting our democratic system.

Haryana’s people played a key role in the struggle

He said the Emergency was not only a constitutional crisis but also an assault on the process of democracy which guarantees freedom of expression, equality and justice. It was also an attack on the ideas of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who gave the slogan “One Nation – One Constitution” and sacrificed his life for this cause. The Chief Minister said that the people of Haryana also stood strong in this struggle. Many people had sacrificed everything to protect democracy.

Hypocrisy of saving the constitution without true respect

The Chief Minister said that some people are going around holding the Constitution’s book, but this is just hypocrisy when it comes to truly protecting it. These same people claim that the Constitution, written by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, is under threat. Yet, there was a time when their own party openly destroyed the Constitution under the cover of darkness. He added that those whose political predecessors imposed dictatorship on the country, suppressed the press, jailed leaders, and carried out forced sterilization cannot honestly claim to be defenders of the Constitution and democracy today. Before giving speeches about democracy, they should admit their mistakes, accept responsibility for harming democracy, and apologize to the nation.

Their ‘Save Constitution’ slogan is just political opportunism and a hunger for power

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that their slogan of ‘Save Constitution’ is merely a symbol of political opportunism and a hunger for power. In contrast, the present government, under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, is truly following the democratic spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, with the Constitution held as supreme. Every action taken by the government aims to strengthen the Constitution. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi has also emphasized that democratic values and the Constitution remain our highest priority.

 Congress misused Section 356 over 90 times to dismiss State Governments

He said that the party which crushed democracy during the Emergency is again trying to spread confusion in the society by invoking the Constitution. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi claimed that if the BJP returned to power, it would abolish the Constitution. However, the people of the country rejected these baseless claims and gave a strong mandate to the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini pointed out that the history of the Congress party shows it upheld divisive policies like Article 370, misused Article 356 over 90 times to dismiss state governments, and amended the Constitution more than 75 times to serve its political interests. For them, the Constitution has never been an ideal but just a political tool. Whenever their power was threatened, they sacrificed the core values of the Constitution.

Prime Minister took historic steps to strengthen national unity and integrity

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Sh Amit Shah have set historic examples for the people from strengthening the unity and integrity of the country to protecting it from external threats. Whether it is fulfilling Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s dream of ‘One Nation – One Constitution’ stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, or successfully eliminating terrorism and terrorists on Pakistani soil through ‘Operation Sindoor’, the whole world recognizes its strength and determination.

After the year 2014, the state government took several important decisions in honour of the Loktantra Senanis

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that as soon as the government came to power in 2014, it began taking care of Loktantra Senanis in Haryana. The first ‘Loktantra Senani Samman Samaroh’ was organized in Rohtak on 26 June 2015. At that time, the government made many important announcements to honor the Loktantra Senanis. Following through on these promises, the government arranged medical facilities for Loktantra Senanis and their spouses, similar to those given to government employees. They also provided free travel in Haryana Roadways’ ordinary buses and a 75 percent fare waiver in Volvo buses.

He added that a monthly pension was also started for Loktantra Senanis, which has now been increased to Rs 20,000 per month. Currently, 501 Loktantra Senani and their widows in the state receive this pension, including 53 Loktantra Senani from Karnal district.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister appealed that everyone should take a pledge to always stay vigilant in protecting the Constitution and ensure that democracy is never threatened again. 

On this occasion, MLA Shri Yogendra Rana, Shri Bhagwan Das Kabirpanthi, Karnal Mayor Smt. Renu Bala Gupta, Chief Minister’s Media Secretary Shri Praveen Attre and other dignitaries were present.

Chandigarh, June 25: – Haryana’s Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij clarified regarding electricity tariff rates, stating that the propaganda spread by some claiming that electricity bills have increased fourfold is entirely baseless and false. He emphasized that there has been no change in the electricity tariff for agricultural consumers. Similarly, monthly bills of domestic consumers with up to 2 kW connection have decreased by 49% to 75% compared to the financial year 2014-15, and most Category-2 consumers have also seen a reduction in their bills. He added that approximately 94% of electricity consumers fall under Category-1 and Category-2, and most of their bills have decreased.

Sh. Vij said that as per the revised electricity tariff structure, Minimum Monthly Charges (MMC) have been removed for all categories of domestic consumers, as Haryana’s DISCOMs are committed to providing continuous, uninterrupted, affordable, and consumer-focused power services. He noted that electricity tariffs in Haryana are significantly lower for both LT (Low Tension) and HT (High Tension) consumers compared to neighboring states.Over the last decade, from FY 2014-15 to FY 2024-25, AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses have been reduced from 29% to 10%, he said.

He mentioned that agricultural consumers in Haryana continue to receive electricity at 10 paise/unit (metered) and Rs. 15/BHP/month (flat rate) as before. Similarly, for metered connections, MMC has been reduced to Rs. 180 (up to 15 BHP) and Rs. 144 (above 15 BHP).

Sh. Vij said that under the revised tariff structure, Category-I domestic consumers (connected load up to 2 kW and monthly consumption up to 100 units) have seen a 49% to 75% reduction in their bills compared to the financial year 2014-15. When compared to the previous tariff structure (with MMC), the bill amounts have dropped significantly.

Additionally, for Category-II consumers (connected load up to 5 kW), there has been an increase of 3% to 9% in bills compared to FY 2024-25. However, compared to FY 2014-15, most consumers in this category have seen a reduction, with only a few slabs seeing an increase of less than 1%. Around 94% of total domestic consumers fall under Category-I and II, Sh. Vij said.

For Category-III consumers, there has been an increase of 5% to 7% compared to FY 2024-25. For lower consumption levels in this category, the percentage increase may appear larger, but only 6% of domestic consumers fall under this category, he added.

Sh. Vij stated that electricity bills should be compared with the same month of the previous year, as it reflects a similar consumption pattern. In Haryana, the fixed charges for the domestic category range from Rs. 0 to Rs. 75/kW, and the highest energy slab remains at Rs. 7.50/unit, whereas neighboring states charge fixed fees up to Rs. 110/kW and energy charges up to Rs. 8/unit. The rates for FY 2025-26 show only a marginal increase compared to FY 2024-25 and FY 2014-15, with a decrease for Category-I consumers, showing an overall increase of less than 9.6% compared to 2014-15.

The Energy Minister said that for HT consumers, the tariff revision from FY 2024-25 to FY 2025-26 shows a moderate increase of 7% to 10% depending on load and consumption. In the LT category, the increase among various consumers is relatively moderate, ranging from 4% to 7%.

Compared to neighboring states, Haryana charges significantly lower electricity tariffs for both LT and HT consumer categories, making it a cost-effective option. In neighboring states, fixed charges go up to Rs. 450/kW for LT and Rs. 475/kW for HT, while energy charges go up to Rs. 8.95/unit for LT and Rs. 7.75/unit for HT.

It is worth noting that according to the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s order dated March 28, 2025, the electricity rates have been revised for different categories from April 2025, based on the tariff petition of the Haryana DISCOMs. This is the first tariff hike since FY 2017-18, after a gap of seven years, despite rising power purchase and operational costs.

Notably, keeping tariffs unchanged for almost a decade was made possible by improved operational efficiency and strict financial discipline. 

Chandigarh, June 23 2025:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing drive against corruption, has arrested Nishan Singh, block Samiti Patwari, posted at Block Development and Panchayats Officer (BDPO) office, Gurdsapur for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 20000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged by a resident of village Babari Nangal, in Gurdaspur.

The complainant has approached the VB and stated that she is the current Panchayat member of Gram Panchayat Babri Nangal and her husband had been cultivating about 22 kanals and 11 marlas of shamlat land out of total 25 acres of land for the last 50 years and the land title (Girdawari) of this land is also registered in his name.

She further stated that on the basis of a complaint, the BDPO office had asked her to submit a clarification in this regard. She requested the current Sarpanch of her village to resolve this issue but the said Nishan Singh Samiti Patwari has demanded a bribe of Rs. 20,000 to get the issue resolved through his department.

The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Nishan Singh has been arrested red handed while he was accepting a bribe Rs 20,000 from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation is underway, he said.

CHANDIGARH, June 22:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 113 days, Punjab Police on Sunday arrested 151 drug smugglers and recovered 533 grams heroin, 2.8 kg opium and Rs 5.32 lakh drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 18,719 in just 113 days.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 99 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 523 locations across the state leading to the registration of 98 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 502 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

          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 54 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, June 22

On the occasion of the closing ceremony of Swachhata Pakhwada being run by the state government and the district administration, a programme ‘Milkar Raho, Khulkar Jiyo’ was organized with public participation in the Shraddhanand Park of New Colony in Palwal city today, in which State Minister of Sports, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Sh. Gaurav Gautam participated as the chief guest.

On this occasion, Sh. Gaurav Gautam launched the logo of MC Palwal. Reiterating his commitment towards realizing the vision of ‘Clean Palwal-Green Palwal’, he said the main objective of the government and the district administration is to make Palwal number one in the country by making it clean, beautiful and green, and for this, every possible effort is being made by the government and the district administration. He also gave necessary guidelines to the officers of the Municipal Council.

He said we should not hesitate or feel ashamed in adopting cleanliness, rather we should actively participate in such cleanliness campaigns.

He said in the coming time, the cleanliness system of Palwal will be in near perfect condition, for which all kinds of facilities are being provided to the Municipal Council.

He said with the aim of beautifying Palwal, the work of decorating the underpasses and squares of the city with wall paintings is underway.

He appealed to the general public, especially the youth, to adopt a clean and healthy lifestyle. The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and the Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini are determined to take cleanliness to every home.

The minister planted a sapling on this occasion and gave the message of environmental protection to the public. He said the Earth is our mother and it is our duty to protect it. Every person should participate in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and plant at least one tree and take a pledge to protect it.

On this occasion, he also honoured the ‘Swachhata Warriors’ by giving them a certificate along with a safety jacket.

On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar Vashisht, ASP Shubham Singh and other officers were present.

Chandigarh, June 22- Union Housing, Urban Affairs and Power Minister Sh. Manohar Lal inaugurated the office of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Lohgarh Foundation Trust built at PWD Rest House Vyaspur, Yamunanagar on Sunday.

On this occasion, a meeting was organized with the members of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Lohgarh Foundation Trust under the chairmanship of the Union Power Minister. During the meeting, a detailed discussion was held regarding starting the construction process of the Lohgarh Memorial. A monitoring committee and expert committee shall monitor the construction process of the memorial and the issue of organization of cultural programmes related to Sikh heritage was also discussed. Former Cabinet Minister Sh. Kanwar Pal Gujjar was nominated as the Chairman of the Monitoring Committee. The objective of the monitoring committee will be to periodically inspect the construction process of the memorial reflecting Sikh heritage and give necessary suggestions. The Expert Committee will be responsible for identifying key historical facts and significant events related to the monument, as well as contributing to its preservation and enhancement through in-depth research.

Sh. Manohar Lal said the Trust and other sub-committees will play an important role in preserving the rich heritage of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and developing museums, monuments and literature on Lohgarh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

During the meeting, the provision of giving income tax exemption to the person/ institution donating in the name of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Lohgarh Foundation Trust was also considered. Detailed discussions were held on the implementation of various projects under Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Lohgarh Foundation Trust and other related points.

During the meeting, Sh. Rakesh Beniwal, founder of Kisan Yuva Club and his colleague Aman Virk handed over a cheque of Rs 11 lakh to the Union Power Minister as a donation in the name of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Lohgarh Foundation Trust. Earlier also, Chancellor of Desh Bhagat University, Dr. Zora Singh had donated Rs 11 lakh to the trust. For this, the Union Minister expressed his gratitude and appealed to the people to actively participate in such religious and social activities.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, ACS, Cooperation Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, Sh. Sanjeev Verma, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Sh. K.M. Pandurang, Director, Tourism Department, Dr. Shaleen, former minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar, former MP Sanjay Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner Parth Gupta, OSD to Chief Minister, Dr. Prabhleen Singh and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, June 21: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has urged the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to help in tracing the missing Indians who are stranded in Russia and have reportedly been forced into the Russia-Ukraine War.

Many of them have lost their lives also, he said, adding, while they had gone in search of work, they were forced to become mercenaries.

Warring disclosed that about 126 Indian citizens from different parts of the country including Punjab were duped by the travel agents with a promise of work permit in Russia.

He said, after paying huge money to the travel agents to the tune of lakhs of rupees these people landed at the battlefront. He disclosed that about 12 such Indians have died while many others are missing.

Warring revealed that some of the victims’ relatives had travelled to Russia on their own spending huge money but to no avail.

The PCC president said that all these people had gone there in search of jobs and not to become mercenaries to fight some other country’s war.

He pointed out, the way government of India was helping evacuate people and students from war torn Iran and Israel, it must make similar efforts to trace and bring back Indians stranded in Russia.

Warring noted that India and Russia have great friendly relations and hoped that the external affairs ministry will use its good offices in Russia to trace the missing Indians and bring them back.

Chandigarh, June 21 – The Haryana Civil Secretariat hosted a Yoga Diwas programme at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, to celebrate the 11th International Yoga Day. Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event saw enthusiastic participation from officers and employees across various state government departments, highlighting a growing awareness of the importance of physical and mental well-being.

Addressing the gathering, Sh. Rastogi extended his heartfelt wishes on International Yoga Day and commended all participants for their collective effort in following the Common Yoga Protocol.He emphasized that yoga is not just a physical activity, but a holistic discipline that fosters balance between body, mind, and spirit. “If each of us dedicates even a small amount of time daily to yoga and walking, it will significantly boost our fitness, focus, and energy levels. This, in turn, enhances both personal well-being and professional efficiency,” he stated.

Rastogi urged officers and employees to incorporate yoga into their daily routines and encouraged them to inspire others—both in their workplaces and communities—to adopt a healthy lifestyle. He added, “Yoga not only strengthens the body but also cultivates mental clarity, emotional stability, and resilience.”

The programme featured a guided session led by expert instructors from the Haryana AYUSH Department. They demonstrated various yogasanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation practices. The instructors also explained the benefits of each asana, highlighting their contribution to physical strength, flexibility, and inner calm. Additionally, participants listened to the International Yoga Day addresses by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Among the dignitaries present were Director General, Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture, K. Makarand Pandurang; Special Secretary, Personnel, Training and Parliamentary Affairs, Aditya Dahiya; Special Secretary, Monitoring & Coordination, Dr. Priyanka Soni; Additional Director (Admn.), Information Public Relation & Languages, Varsha Khangwal; Special Secretary, Secretariat Establishment, Sh. Samwartak Singh Khangwal, and senior officers from various other departments.

Chandigarh, June 21 — The 11th International Yoga Day was celebrated across Haryana with great enthusiasm and held special significance this year. While over 1 lakh people gathered at the sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra for the state-level event, sending a powerful message to the world through collective yoga practice, nearly 20 lakh participants joined yoga sessions held across 22 districts and 121 blocks of the state.

The state-level function was graced by Haryana Governor, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, AYUSH and Health Minister, Kumari Arti Singh Rao, MP, Sh. Naveen Jindal, and renowned Ayurvedacharya, Sh. Balkrishna and other dignitaries. Notably, Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev led the yoga session. The live broadcast of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s address from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, was watched by all participants.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that a Yoga Writer Incentive Scheme will be launched to promote yoga research in universities, with outstanding authors to be honored annually. Additionally, 100 new Yoga evam Vyayamshalas will be established this financial year. Currently, there are 883 vyayamshalas already operating in the state. An international meditation hall will also be built at Shri Krishna AYUSH University in Kurukshetra, he announced.

The Chief Minister further announced the introduction of a credit-based evaluation system for assessing students’ yoga performance in all government schools. A uniform yoga curriculum will also soon be implemented in all universities and colleges of Haryana.

He stated that yoga and naturopathy subjects will be recognized under the AYUSH, starting this year, with government registration of practitioners also commencing.

The Chief Minister also announced that experienced coaches will be appointed to strengthen yoga as a sport at the national level and to train athletes for international competitions. Recruitment for 40 yoga instructors in the sports department will begin shortly.

He announced that from today, a 5-minute ‘Yoga Break’ will be introduced in all government offices of Haryana to provide a stress-free work environment for employees.

PM Narendra Modi Re-established Yoga as India’s Identity on the Global Stage- CM

Extending greetings on the 11th International Yoga Day from the land of Kurukshetra, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the entire world is now embracing yoga, thanks to the efforts of saints, sages, and especially our visionary Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister has restored yoga—India’s ancient legacy—to the international stage and inspired millions with the slogan, “Khelega Bharat, toh Khilega Bharat; Yoga ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz,” which has become a source of motivation for many.

The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Yog Guru Swami Ramdev, noting that he has connected individuals worldwide with ancient yoga practices, thus giving yoga a global identity.

He emphasized that this year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” signifies that yoga is not just for individual well-being but for the welfare of all humanity.

International Yoga Day Celebrated Like a Festival; Entire Haryana Immersed in Yoga

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini shared that activities related to Yoga Day began in Haryana as early as May 27, 25 days before the International Yoga Day. Various programmes were organized across the state, involving officers, employees, the general public, and religious and social organizations, transforming Yoga Day into a grand celebration. Today, both Kurukshetra and all of Haryana have been immersed in yoga.

Yoga is Not Just Exercise, but a Complete Science of Living

The Chief Minister noted that yoga is not merely a form of exercise but a complete science for living a healthy, happy, and peaceful life. Yoga is an art of living, which is why it is said: ‘Do yoga daily, stay healthy always.’ We should all incorporate yoga into our daily routines, he said.

Yoga is the Foundation of Life, Devotion, Nature, and Culture — Swami Ramdev

On this occasion, Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev stated that yoga is the foundation of life, devotion, nature, and culture. He recalled how Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi had strongly advocated for International Yoga Day in his very first address to the United Nations General Assembly. As a result, in 2014, the UN passed a historic resolution declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day, with 177 countries supporting the proposal at that time. Today, more than 200 countries are embracing yoga, making this ancient practice a global way of life.

Swami Ramdev also emphasized the Prime Minister’s vision of development with heritage, prosperity with culture, and yoga as national duty.

He praised the Haryana government, under Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership, for launching many welfare initiatives and connecting lakhs of people to yoga through numerous events.

During the programme, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini released three booklets published by Patanjali Yogpeeth on Swami Ramdev’s life and yoga journey, as well as a Yoga Protocol booklet prepared by the Haryana Yog Aayog.  A video message from Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj was also played during the event.

Former Minister, Sh. Subhash Sudha, Chairman, Haryana Yog Aayog, Dr. Jaideep Arya, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and AYUSH Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Director General, AYUSH, Sh. Sanjeev Verma, and other dignitaries, were also present at the event.