Patiala, May 25:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday paid obeisance at Sri Kali Mata Mandir and prayed for the peace, progress and prosperity of the state.

Interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP announced a complete facelift of the temple by pumping in resources. They said that the sarovar of the temple that had dried up from the last 30 years will be rejuvenated by pumping fresh water. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that the sarovar of the temple will be fully renovated, including desilting, waterproofing, stonework along the banks and improved pathways.

The Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that this would preserve its sanctity and make it more accessible and aesthetically aligned with heritage architecture. They said that the back gate which serves as a primary access point during high traffic periods is proposed to be reopened and renovated. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that simultaneously all temple entrances will be aesthetically restored to maintain architectural symmetry and improve crowd circulation.

The Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that keeping with Sikh and Hindu traditions of community service, daily langar service for devotees particularly those visiting from remote or economically weaker backgrounds will be started. They said that a comprehensive Master Plan with future construction, heritage preservation, pilgrim services, sanitation, parking and traffic flow in consultation with urban and religious planning experts is being prepared. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that the Devotees Hall will be upgraded with fully air- conditioned AC hall to provide comfort to senior citizens, women with children and differently abled devotees, especially during extreme weather conditions.

The Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that the temple’s significance is reflected from the fact that approx. 25,000 devotees visit daily, around one lakh on Saturdays whereas during Navratri festivals, the number rises to 1.5 lakh. They said that it is a proud privilege for them to have got the chance to pay obeisance at this respected place adding that Shri Kali Mata Mandir, located in the cultural capital of Punjab, Patiala, is one of the most venerated and historic temples in northern India. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that this temple stands as a testament to Punjab’s rich spiritual heritage and royal patronage.

The Chief Minister and National Convener of AAP said that the temple houses a six-foot idol of Maa Kali and the sacred Paawan Jyot from Bengal adding that in addition to the primary sanctum of Maa Kali, the temple complex also houses an older shrine of Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji, an embodiment of Shakti. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that this dual reverence makes the complex unique both spiritually and architecturally, blending centuries old devotional practices with modern era infrastructure. They said that it is the paramount duty of the government to preserve the cultural heritage of the state to keep our youngsters abreast with our glorious past.

CHANDIGARH/ FEROZEPUR, May 25:

          In a significant breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab, in a joint operation with Ferozepur Police, has arrested three associates of the Ashish Chopra Gang involved in the sensational double murder of Rishabh and Shalu due to gang rivalry between the Nata Gang and Ashish Chopra Gang, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Sunday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Manpreet Singh alias Mannu and Ramandeep Singh, both residents of Ferozepur and Sonu, a resident of Faridkot. Police teams have also recovered thee pistols along with seven live cartridges and four shells from their possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrest of these accused persons has also led to the cracking of another murder case, in which a person identified as Yotham was killed, with Manpreet Mannu being the main shooter. Further investigation is underway to identify other associates of this gang and establish backward and forward linkages, he added.

          Sharing details of the operation, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that acting on specific intelligence, police teams from AGTF led by DSP Rajan Parminder along with Ferozepur Police raided the hideout of Ramandeep Singh and Sonu in village Gulabe Wala in Sri Muktsar Sahib.

          The accused attempted to flee and opened fire at the police party but were apprehended after a chase, he said, while adding that a criminal case FIR no. 89 dated 24/5/2025 under sections 109, 132 and 22 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act has been registered at Police Station Sadar Sri Muktsar Sahib.

          The ADGP said that in a separate operation, accused Manpreet Mannu was intercepted in Ferozepur, where he opened fire at the police team in a bid to escape. In retaliatory fire, the accused sustained a bullet injury and was arrested, he said, while adding that Police teams have also impounded his Hero HF Deluxe Motorcycle, which he was riding.

          In this regard, a separate case under section 109 of the BNS and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act has been registered at Police Station City Ferozepur.

          Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ferozepur Bhupinder Sigh said that the arrested accused have a criminal background and were involved in multiple heinous crimes, including the recent double murder case. Further investigations are ongoing and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.

CHANDIGARH, May 24:

In a momentous occasion marking a new milestone for Punjab and its global diaspora, the students of Andhra Pradesh Government Schools will learn basics of Punjabi language under a 5-day exchange program to promote cultural exchange, linguistic diversity and foster national unity, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

 S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have been paired under the program as per directives from the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy. As part of the exchange, students from classes VI to X in Punjab government schools will learn the basics of Telugu, while Andhra Pradesh government schools will reciprocate by teaching Punjabi to their students.

 The Education Minister said that this pan-India initiative has seen diverse state pairings, including J&K and Ladakh with Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh with Kerala, Uttarakhand with Karnataka, Haryana with Telangana, Rajasthan with Assam, Gujarat with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra with Odisha, Goa with Jharkhand, Delhi with Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh with Manipur & Nagaland, UP with Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya and Bihar with Tripura & Mizoram, showcasing the program’s extensive reach and cultural exchange potential.

 This initiative aims to encourage students to learn an additional Indian language, promoting multilingualism and appreciation for regional cultures, the Education Minister said, while emphasising the importance of preserving regional languages and cultures.

 S. Harjot Singh Bains asserted that the importance of Punjabi, as the mother tongue and official language of the state, would not be undermined, while dismissing the objections raised on the Summer Camp as ‘mere politicking’.

 He slammed those who rush to media for headlines without proper understanding of any issue. He reminded them of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s bold step to counter CBSE’s attempt to marginalise regional languages. Notably, Punjab had taken a pioneering step by making Punjabi a mandatory subject in all schools, regardless of their board affiliation.

 The Education Minister added that the summer camp aims to promote multilingualism and cultural unity by encouraging students to learn an additional Indian language. The program will focus on developing basic conversational skills, exploring linguistic and cultural connections, and fostering a sense of national unity through joyful learning experiences. Students will learn fundamentals such as greetings, expressions, alphabets, numbers, songs, and conversations, as well as aspects of local culture, history and traditions.

Chandigarh:

The department of robotic surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, has successfully performed over 2,600 robot-aided surgeries using the world’s most-advanced 4th generation robot – Da Vinci Xi. To meet the growing demand and ensure greater patient access to minimally invasive procedures, the hospital has now added a second Da Vinci Xi robot to its surgical capabilities.

Doctors from various specialties of the hospital, who have conducted robot-aided surgeries, shared its benefits during a press conference organised here today. The team of doctors, including Dr Atul Joshi, director, general surgery, laparoscopic and oncology surgeon; Dr Swapna Misra, director of obstetrics, gynaecology & robotic surgery; Dr RP Doley, director, general surgery; Dr Rohit Dadhwal, consultant, department of urology, andrology and robotic surgery; and Dr Kuldeep Thakur, consultant, head and neck onco-surgery, discussed how these have been revolutionising the treatment of various complex ailments.

Dr Atul Joshi, said, “Robot-aided surgery has transformed the field of minimal invasive surgery. It provides a 3D view of the operative field via a special camera inserted into the body of the patient.”

Dhuri (Sangrur), May 22-

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that Lok Milnis in the villages are aimed at accelerating the pace of development along with facilitating the people residing in the rural areas. 

Interacting with the villagers of Bhullarheri, Bhalwan, Dhura, Bhadalwad and Palasaur after dedicating number of projects to the people, the Chief Minister said that the holistic growth of villages was the need of hour to give further impetus to all round development of state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is already making all out efforts for ensuring public welfare and giving impetus to development of villages. He said that this gigantic task could not be possible without active support and cooperation of the general public.

The Chief Minister said that the people should regularly monitor the ongoing development works in the state adding that this will help in quality execution of work. He exhorted people to make sure that concerted efforts of the state government for giving fillip to the development of villages are successful with their assistance and guidance. Bhagwant Singh Mann also asked the officers to undertake frequent field visits to acquaint themselves with the ground realities so that major push can be further given to development of villages.

The Chief Minister said that the majority of the population of the state live in villages so the state government was committed to ensure unprecedented development in them. He said that the state government was committed to provide facilities at par with cities to facilitate people and no stone was being left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that none of the previous governments bothered to organize such Lok Milnis with the villagers as they were skeptical of meeting those who have elected them to power.

The Chief Minister said that the sole aim of holding such events was to prepare a road map for giving further impetus to ongoing development of the state and especially in the villages. Laying thrust on the comprehensive development of rural areas, he said that the state government has already sanctioned a number of projects for accomplishing this task. Bhagwant Singh Mann solicited the support of the general public in strengthening rural infrastructure to further accelerate the pace of development.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that in Dhuri block, a grant of ₹15.61 crore has been released for a total of 196 development works in five villages of Bhullarheri, Bhalwan, Palasaur, Dhura, and Bhaddalwad. He said that out of these 115 works have been completed at a cost of ₹9.90 crore, while 81 works costing ₹5.71 crore are currently in progress. In addition, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that based on the demand of these five gram panchayats, another grant/sanction of ₹15.65 crore has been released for 24 more development works.

Dhuri (Sangrur), May 22:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday felicitated the cooperative societies of the Dhuri circle, who have set a new benchmark by recovering more than 99% of the loans.  

Addressing the gathering during a function to commemorate the International Year of Cooperation, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the societies of the Dhuri circle have set a new benchmark by recovering more than 99% of the loans. He said that due to this a special program has been chalked out to felicitate these societies through this program. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is heartening to see that these societies have done exceptional work when most of the others across the state have failed to recover their outstanding debt.

The Chief Minister said that the cooperative sector needs to be strengthened as it will ensure the benefit of the farmers and other stakeholders. He urged the farmers and others to open their accounts in the cooperative banks which offer 3% less interest on loans than the other banks. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there are several misnomers about the Cooperative banks and the farmers should not fall prey to it.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government is roping in experts from banking sectors to further enhance the efficiency of these banks. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the need of the hour is that the farmers should open their accounts in these banks so as to give further fillip to economic activity in the banks. Expressing concern over big fat weddings in the state, he said that they are putting a huge burden on the pockets of the common farmers.

The Chief Minister, while batting for simple weddings, said that it is the need of the hour so that farmers can be pulled out of the vicious circle of debt. He said that the lavish weddings should be avoided as they put the farmers of the state under huge debt thereby leading to serious repercussions in the coming times. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the farmers should come out of the mad race of competing with each other on spending the money lavishly just as their neighbours or relatives had been doing so.

The Chief Minister also called upon the farmers to adopt the technique of using the farm equipment on custom hiring basis from the Cooperative societies as it will help them in curtailing the heavy cost expenditure meted out on farming. He said that the state government was already giving huge subsidies to the cooperative societies for purchasing such equipment.  Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these resources should be utilized judiciously to make agriculture a profitable venture by cutting the expenditure meted out on it.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is already laying major thrust to strengthen the cooperative sector in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann unequivocally said that Cooperative sector is the lifeline of the country, which has played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country in the post-independence era. He said that the Cooperative movement in India has immensely benefited all the sections of society particularly the farming community, who had played a crucial role in making the country self-reliant in food production.

The Chief Minister said the girls have once again outshined the boys in the result adding that it is the outcome of the concerted efforts being made by the state government to spread the light of quality education in every nook and corner of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the massive efforts being done by the state government has immensely benefited the girls thereby paving way for their empowerment by excelling in the field of education.  Congratulating these meritorious students who have cleared this exam with flying colors, he extended best wishes to them for their future.

The Chief Minister said that these girls had been able to shine through their hard work and dedication adding that students, their parents and teachers deserve accolades for this achievement. He envisioned that these students will become role models for other students and inspire them to excel in the arena of education by pursuing higher education. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to providing the best environment of school education for the students, especially the girls, so that they can succeed in their lives.

The Chief Minister categorically said that Punjabis have proved that if the state can protect the borders of the country they can aptly save the waters of state too. He said that Punjab has a glorious history of making supreme sacrifices to protect the 532 kilometres long border with Pakistan. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this time also Punjabis were at the forefront giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani Army and on the other hand they saved the share of their water too.

The Chief Minister said that for around 20 days the hard working and vigilant people of the state didn’t allow Haryana and centre to steal even a single drop of water from Punjab. He said that for years, Punjab’s water has been diverted to other states through the BBMB adding that hands of Congress, Akalis and BJP were drenched with blood of Punjabis as these parties have backstabbed them by ignoring the water rights of the state for vested interests. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the earlier leaders of Punjab had backstabbed the people on several issues by giving importance to their own interests over that of state.

On the occasion Registrar Cooperative Societies Vimal Setia and others were present.

CHANDIGARH/FARIDKOT, May 21:

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab in a joint operation with Faridkot Police has arrested two associates of foreign-based Gangster Arsh Dala, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Vishal Singh, a resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib and Onkar Singh, a resident of village Gamewala in Ferozepur. Police teams have also recovered two .30 bore pistols along with six live cartridges from their possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation revealed that the accused Vishal Singh, who came out on bail recently, was actively planning to eliminate his rival gang member. The accused was continuously in touch with his foreign based handlers and waiting for the directions to execute sensational crime in Punjab, he said.

          The DGP said that further investigation is underway to identify other associates and establish backward and forward linkages in this case.

          Sharing operation details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that the teams of the AGTF led by DSP Rajan Parminder based human and intel-inputs located the accused persons in the jurisdiction of Faridkot, and in a joint operation with Faridkot Police has arrested both the accused from near Dana Mandi chownk in Sadiq and recovered weapons from their possession.

          Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Pragya Jain said that both the arrested persons have a criminal background with cases pertaining to attempt to murder, cheating, under Arms Act, etc. have been registered against them.

          A case FIR no. 52 dated 21/5/2025 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Sadiq in Faridkot.

CHANDIGARH, May 21:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 81st day, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested 150 drug smugglers and recovered 7.2 kg heroin, 297 kg poppy husk and Rs 2.41 lakhs drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 12,496 in just 81 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 1300 police personnel, under the supervision of 89 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 471 locations across the state leading to the registration of 104 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 504 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 90 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Dhuri (Sangrur), May 21 –

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday dedicated the Chief Minister’s Facilitation Centre at Dhuri to ensure effective, transparent, and accessible governance for the residents of the Dhuri constituency.

Dedicating the center, the Chief Minister said it will act as a Single Window system for residents of the Dhuri constituency to access all government services under one roof. He added that the initiative aims to bridge the gap between the public and government offices, increase transparency, improve access to data and its analysis for the residents of Dhuri Assembly constituency and ensure quicker redressal of citizen grievances. Bhagwant Singh Mann said this will promote more citizen-centric governance, build public trust, and enhance service delivery.

The Chief Minister stated that the center has been established at a cost of Rs. 1.21 crore, and features six counters and a reception desk. He added that it also includes a meeting-cum-conference hall, and the primary objective is to improve coordination between the public and government offices. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that it will help in the timely resolution of public issues, and a Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer will be in charge of the center.

The Chief Minister noted that the officer will oversee the delivery of services and monitor development projects in the area. He added that representatives from various departments—including Health, Revenue, Social Security, Police, and Administration—will be present at the center. Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government currently provides 443 services through service centers, and this new facility will help people access those services more easily.

He further mentioned that forms for pension schemes, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Ashirwad scheme, labor cards, Aadhaar card updates, and more will be filled and processed here. One of the key features of the center, the Chief Minister, said, is that citizens will no longer need to visit multiple offices repeatedly. Instead, the center will follow up with the respective departments until the task is completed

Additionally, the Chief Minister said that through Saanjh Kendras, assistance will be provided for preparing documents related to services such as passport issuance, character certificates, FIRs, DDR copies, and NOCs for loudspeakers and events. He emphasized that the Chief Minister’s Facilitation Centre aims to eliminate the harassment commonly faced by citizens in government offices. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that the center will become a beacon of hope for the common people.

Chandigarh, May 21:

          In a pioneering move to celebrate academic excellence and instil leadership aspirations among students of the state government schools, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative “Ek Din, DC/SSP de Sang” to offer these bright young minds meaningful exposure to real-world governance, discipline and public service, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

          Elaborating on the initiative, S. Harjot Singh Bains revealed that “Ek Din, DC/SSP de Sang” will unite six topper students (three each from class-10th & 12th) from each district, with Deputy Commissioner and SSP of their respective district. This immersive experience will give students a firsthand experience of the dedication, hard work, and responsibility that come with leadership roles in administration and law enforcement, providing them with invaluable insights into public service and governance.

          The Education Minister highlighted that the core objective of this move is to inspire and empower meritorious students, igniting within them a spark of ambition and purpose. By immersing themselves in the world of governance and leadership, these young minds will understand the importance of governance, community service and leadership’s role in shaping society.

          “We want to provide a platform for our students to learn from experienced leaders for inspiring them to explore careers in public service, besides fostering a sense of responsibility and civic engagement and encourage them to dream bigger and strive for excellence”, S. Harjot Singh Bains said while adding that as these students embark on this journey, they will be treated to a day filled with learning, growth, and mentorship.

          The carefully curated day will include a range of activities, including observe real-time administrative and policing activities such as grievance redressal sessions, cyber cell operations, planning meetings, field visits to development projects, and other relevant engagements. A joint lunch with the officers will also be organised, offering the students an open platform to share their aspirations and receive career guidance. At the conclusion of the program, students will be presented with a Certificate of Participation, a motivational book or diary, and a group photograph with the officer. A detailed feedback and mentoring session will be held to reflect on their experience.

          To document the impact of the initiative, each district will create a short write-up with student reflections, which will be compiled into a “District Merit Booklet”. Schools will also invite participating students to share their experiences with peers, thereby fostering a culture of aspiration and ambition across the student body. Through this visionary program, the Punjab Government reaffirms its commitment to inclusive governance and equitable opportunity, sending a clear message that every child — regardless of background — has the right to dream, lead, and succeed, he added.

          Wishing the students a day of profound learning and inspiration, S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed that the students would have a day filled with discovery, growth, and inspiration and it would leave an indelible mark on their lives and shape their future as leaders.