Chandigarh, January 20:

          The Punjab Raj Bhavan today resonated with the cultural as well as the musical vibes of Punjab and Kazakhstan as a mesmerizing and soulful musical Evening was held at the premises.

          Terming it as an extremely auspicious occasion for the Punjab Raj Bhavan, the Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria appreciated the untiring efforts made by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, Punjab, for organizing and ensuring that this event turns out to be a stupendous success.

          Heartily welcoming the artists of Kazakhstan, the Governor said that Music always spreads happiness and is a great medium for carrying forward cultures and civilizations and is above the barriers of language.

          The Governor further added that this spell binding Evening has cemented the cultural bond between Punjab and Kazakhstan thus bringing together both.

          Calling Punjab a land that has made great sacrifices, Gulab Chand Kataria further pointed out that Punjab has bestowed great cultural legacy on next generations.

          In this landmark event celebrating international friendship and cultural exchange, Punjab welcomed an esteemed cultural troupe from Kazakhstan. This initiative reflects Punjab’s commitment to foster cross-cultural ties while showcasing its tourism potential on the global stage. Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond while addressing the event emphasized Punjab’s rich heritage and efforts to position the state as a global cultural hub.

          Minister Sond extended invitation to the people around the world to discover the beauty, diversity, and soul of Punjab. “Together, let us celebrate cultural understanding, elevate Punjab’s tourism potential, and create a future where global friendships thrive,” he said.

          Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is undertaking key initiatives to elevate its tourism sector and attract global visitors. These initiatives include Infrastructure Development, Improved connectivity, enhanced safety measures, and world-class hospitality services to ensure a seamless travel experience.

Heritage Promotion through focused efforts to showcase iconic landmarks like the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh etc and Punjab’s lush wetlands and agricultural landscapes through village tourism also occupies a prime slot in the scheme of things of Punjab Government. Promoting sustainable tourism by encouraging eco-friendly practices and active community participation is also under prime focus.

          Sond expressed confidence that these initiatives will position Punjab as a preferred destination for both domestic and international tourists, offering them a blend of tradition and modernity.

          He extended warm welcome to all the artists from Kazakhstan to immerse themselves in the vibrant heritage of this land. This evening’s cultural performances beautifully exemplify how music, dance, and art transcend barriers, uniting humanity in a shared celebration of creativity and harmony.

          He added, Punjab is the land of vibrant traditions and timeless heritage and has long been a shining beacon and the pivot of Indian civilization. Known for its soulful music, rhythmic dances like Bhangra and Giddha, and the globally cherished flavors of Punjabi cuisine, the state offers a unique cultural experience to every visitor. Iconic dishes such as sarson ka saag, makki di roti, and lassi have become synonymous with Punjab’s warmth and hospitality.

          Sond said that Punjab is not just a destination; it is an experience where history, tradition, and modernity come together. This cultural exchange with Kazakhstan highlights the shared appreciation between the two regions for traditions, art, and family values. This event is not just a celebration of art and culture but a reaffirmation of universal harmony and mutual respect between nations.  It underscores Punjab’s vision of building bridges across borders and promoting global harmony.

          The event witnessed a mesmerizing fusion of cultures as Kazakh artists captivated the audience with their enchanting traditional dances and soul-stirring music, leaving an indelible mark on hearts. Complementing their performance, Punjabi troupes showcased the vibrant heritage of Punjab through electrifying displays of Bhangra, and other traditional dances that brought the stage to life.

          The cultural extravaganza was graced by the presence of Chief Secretary Punjab KAP Sinha, Chief Secretary Chandigarh Rajiv Verma, ACS to Governor K. Siva Prasad, Secretary Tourism Malwinder Singh Jaggi and Director Amrit Singh, adding significance to this memorable evening of artistic exchange.

Moga, January 19:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday laid the foundation stone of expansion of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) by constructing the third and fourth floor of the building at a cost of Rs 10.31 crore.

The Chief Minister said that it is a red letter day in the history of district as construction of additional two storey of Block B in DAC has commenced today. He said that the DAC building consisting of four blocks viz. A block, B block, C block and D block were constructed in 2004. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in order to ease the space crunch being faced by various offices and to shift some government offices that are being run from other places, additional two storeys are being constructed.

The Chief Minister said that the project will be completed in around eight months by August this year. He said that total of 48 rooms will be constructed on both the floors and there will be provision of separate toilet blocks for gents and ladies on both the floors. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that new lift with a carrying capacity of 13 persons will be installed in the complex adding that both the floors will have CCTV camera system for safety and security.

The Chief Minister said that this ultra modern building will also be equipped with fire Detection/Emergency evacuation and Public Address system. He also said that a 95 KW Solar Power Generation System will be installed in the building for adequate use of renewable energy. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the previous governments had hardly paid any heed towards such initiatives to serve the people in a better manner.

The Chief Minister said that earlier the reigns of the state were in the wrong hands earlier due to which the state had suffered adversely. However, he said that ever since assuming the charge of office his government has been according top priority to such works of immense public importance. Bhagwant Singh Mann that such buildings are being constructed while keeping in-view the future needs of people.

Patiala/Chandigarh, January 19

Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, with the leadership and special efforts of Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and the dedicated endeavors of PRTC Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana, the salaries of 1148 employees, who have been working continuously for over a year, have been increased by ₹2500 along with an additional 10% hike. 

It is noteworthy that a meeting between the PRTC Contract Workers union under the leadership of Ranjodh Singh Hadana  held with Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. During the meeting, officials including Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) D.K. Tiwari, MD Bikramjit Singh Shergill, GM Maninderjit Singh Sidhu and other senior officials were present. 

Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar emphasized, “A nation progresses when its citizens are happy.” With this vision, the Punjab government is committed to introducing unique initiatives to enhance the quality of life for its employees. Bhullar stated that the salary increment proposal was presented during the Board of Directors meeting, where it is unanimously approved. Copies of the directive have been issued to seven departments. 

Additionally, a consensus was reached to frame a policy for regularizing employees under service rules and the related file will be sent to the Advocate General of Punjab. A follow-up meeting will be held with senior officials and unions to finalize the policy. 

Minister Bhullar further stated that the primary demands of contract employees, particularly salary uniformity, were discussed in a previous meeting held at the Chief Minister’s office in Chandigarh. The government, under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, agreed on uniform salaries and assured the resolution of other demands such as adding new buses to the corporation, regularizing contract workers, removing employees from the waiting list for active duties and increasing commissions for advance bookers. 

Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana, during his address, highlighted that PRTC has increased wages for drivers by ₹2500 and and this ratio other employees a further 30% increment to according to Punjab Roadways. Employees hired after September 15, 2021, were earlier given only minimum wages. To address this disparity, the Board of Directors has decided to increase their wages by ₹2500 and an additional 10%, applicable only to those continuously working for over a year. This increment in wages will be prospective and no arrears of any kind will be paid.

Prominent members of the PRTC Azad Union, including State General Secretary Manjinder Kumar Babbu Sharma, Patron Gurdhyan Singh Bhanra, Gurpal Singh Sangrur and Khushwinder Singh Budhla, also participated in the meeting.

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, January 19

          People from all walks of life today paid last tributes to the late Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, MLA from Ludhiana West who passed away on Jan 10, during his Bhog and antim ardas at Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Model Town Extension locality on Sunday.

          Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Punjab CM’s Wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur and several leaders across party lines remembered Gogi for his lifelong commitment to public service.

          In their address, they added that MLA Gogi was a source of inspiration and motivation for society. They said that presence of people from all walks of life, who have converged here on the Bhog and Antim Ardas of MLA Gogi, reflects how much he was respected by the people in the region.                          

          They added that Gogi was a hardworking, dedicated and committed colleague. They stated that it was a huge personal loss for them and an irreparable loss for the Aam Aadmi party, as Gogi was a committed foot soldier of the party.

          On behalf of the family, MLA Gogi’s son Swaraj thanked everyone for standing rock solid with the family.

Chandigarh, January 11

A high-level meeting of the Punjab State Advisory Board, chaired by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, was held at Punjab Bhawan. The Minister emphasized ensuring that government schemes are accessible to Divyang persons and directed officials to implement these schemes effectively at the grassroots level.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reviewed the status of welfare initiatives and instructed various departments to expedite their implementation. She directed the completion of pending work on 144 government buildings in 10 districts under the SIPDA scheme within the specified time frame. Furthermore, she stressed that all government buildings be made barrier-free within three years and asked the department to prepare a detailed proposal. To monitor progress, the Social Security Department instructed to notify a five-member committee, led by the Deputy Commissioner at the district level.

The Minister also underscored the importance of strictly implementing the provisions of the RPWD Act, 2016, to safeguard reservation benefits for Divyang persons. She directed the submission of a detailed report on benefits provided under these provisions during the next board meeting.

Taking serious note of the pending UDID card applications, Dr. Baljit Kaur directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to clear these applications within a month. She also instructed the department to present a comprehensive proposal in the next board meeting to address challenges faced by Divyang Persons in obtaining UDID cards. Civil Surgeons were directed to organize special camps to address discrepancies in disability percentage and other issues related to UDID cards.

The Sports Department informed

the board about the benefits and incentives provided to disabled athletes under the Punjab Sports Policy 2023, highlighting that Punjab is the first state in the region to offer such special benefits. The Minister directed the department to prioritize resolving grading issues faced by disabled athletes.

To uplift the living standards of Divyang Persons, Dr. Baljit Kaur instructed board members to identify such individuals in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and support those willing to undergo vocational training. She also directed the Employment Generation and Skill Development Department to organize special camps for this purpose.

Cabinet Minister appealed to all Divyang persons to register at the Special Employment Exchange established at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana to avail government schemes for vocational training and employment.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also instructed the Urban Development and Rural Development Departments to prioritize providing agricultural land and housing to persons with disabilities under Section 37 of the RPWD Act and ensure effective dissemination of information regarding these schemes.

She urged officials from various departments to prioritize resolving Divyang Persons and to ensure the appointment of grievance redressal officers as per the notification issued by the Social Security Department. These details should be made available on the respective departmental websites.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also informed the board that last year, a special campaign was launched to identify backlog vacancies for Divyang Persons. So far, 21 departments have sent requisitions to the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board and the Punjab Public Service Commission for filling these positions.

Dr. Baljit Kaur affirmed that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of Divyang Persons and is working tirelessly to ensure their well-being.

Chandigarh, January 11:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday sought kind intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide financial assistance to the state government for setting up special NDPS court to check drug menace.

Participating through video conferencing in the regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’, the Chief Minister urged GOI to give one time financial assistance, for 10 years to State to create Special NDPS Courts and recruitment of public prosecutors along with other supporting staff, of Rs 600 crores (@ Rs.60 Cr. Per year). He said that at present there are 35,000 NDPS cases pending for Session trial as on January 01, 2025 adding that at present rate of disposal, on an average a Session Court takes seven years to complete the trial of pending case leaving aside all new added cases. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in coming five years, this average disposal time will increase from seven years (35,000 pending cases) to 11 years (55,000 pending cases).

The Chief Minister said that in order to clear the pendency in the next five years, state needs to create 79 new exclusive NDPS Special Courts in Punjab and to appoint 79 Public Prosecutors along with supporting staff for these NDPS Special Courts adding that for it this financial assistance is solicited. He also requested the Union Home Minister to ensure generous funding from National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse (Chapter 7-A of NDPS Act) for Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Live Monitoring Systems for six Bordering Districts, purchase of equipment for technical surveillance, infrastructure and logistic requirement for 5G Jamming solution for Prisons, de-addiction centers in Jails, AI surveillance systems in Jail, Special Prison for drug traffickers and assistance for anti- drug awareness campaigns in all 28 districts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state had sought Rs.2829 Crore through 16th Finance Commission which should be approved at the earliest for effective law enforcement and upgrading infrastructure and logistic support of ANTF and Prisons.

Flagging another issue, the Chief Minister said that with the aim to control, reclaim and rejuvenate drug hotspots in Punjab, hiring of counsellors and coordinators for conducting survey and studies regarding impact of CADA amounting to Rs.107 crores was submitted to Government since 2022, but nothing has been allotted till date adding that it should be released at the earliest. He said that the state faced a full scaled insurgency in the late seventies and eighties, and now is fighting a proxy war with Pakistan to thwart drug trafficking carried out by Pakistan supported stage actors. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 552 kms of International Border shared with Pakistan is porous which is marked by fencing gap of around 43 kms and riverine gap of 35 kms adding that this  makes state vulnerable to cross border drug trafficking.

The Chief Minister said that state’s location along the notorious ‘Golden Cresent’ drug route makes it a key transit point for narcotics and other contraband adding that now drug is consumed by the local population at an alarming level. He said that due to Increased vigil and border fencing, drug trafficking is now majorly done through drones and it poses less chances of getting caught due to which it has become a National problem which is being left to Punjab to fight on its own. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that with its meager resources, the State is fighting a herculean task to fight against the drug abuse.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab Police has raised Anti-Narcotics Task Force with 861 officers/officials who are trained to deal with the drug trafficking. He said that Further each District/Commissionerate of the state has established Narcotic Cell to deal with the drug problem and the state Government has also constituted a State Level ‘Punjab Narcotics Prevention Campaign Committee’ under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary, Punjab and District Mission Teams under the District Magistrates at district level to co- ordinate between all the stakeholders for curbing the drug abuse. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that A State level Nodal Officer for ‘Anti-Drug Program’ has also been nominated by the Government and state has also commissioned an Anti-Drug Helpline ‘Safe Punjab’, which gives a platform to the citizens to report any drug trafficking incident or any help required for the treatment of drug addict.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that out of the total 1905 complaints received on this helpline, action has been taken in 856 complaints and FIRs in 31 cases have been registered. He said that the state Government has adopted a policy of Enforcement-Deaddiction- Prevention (EDP) to fight this menace of drug abuse and Under this policy, drug laws are strictly implemented, deaddiction services are provided and drug awareness is spread to prevent the youth and citizens from falling into the drug trap. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the last two and half year the state government has registered around 31,500 cases under NDPS Act in which 43,000 accused have been arrested with 3,000 kg of heroin, 2,600 kg of opium and 4.3 Cr of pharmaceutical drugs.

The Chief Minister said illegally acquired property of drug traffickers worth Rs.449 Crore has been frozen  from the Competent Authority and With its training and capacity building a conviction rate of 82.5% has been achieved by the State, which is highest in the Country. He said that Habitual offenders of drug trafficking have been detained under PITNDPS Act and the State has developed a software ‘Punjab Artificial Intelligence System’ (PAIS 2.0) as an advance tool designed to help Punjab Police in tracking and analyzing crimes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it has a database of 3,32,976 criminals including more than 1 lakh drug offenders which include features like drug seizures data, voice analysis, and criminal link tracking to better handle cases related to narcotics.

The Chief Minister said that With over 18 million searches conducted and 30,804 active users, PAIS provides real-time insights, helping officers make quick decisions and allocate resources effectively adding that it is a powerful tool in the fight against drug related crimes. He said that Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal office at Chandigarh, Amritsar and Regional Office at Amritsar has been given access of PAIS 2.0. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for deaddiction of drug addicts, free of cost medicines are provided to the addicts in 529 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 17 OOAT clinic have also been established in the Jails and state government has set up 213 Private as well as Government Deaddiction Centers and 90 Rehabilitation Centers for treatment of drug addicts.

The Chief Minister said that 97,413 addicts were admitted in these  Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Centers whereas around 10 lakh patients have undergone treatment in these centers during 2022-2024. He said that in order to prevent the youth from falling into the trap of drug abuse, Government has launched Buddy Program in all the Private/Government Schools, Colleges & Universities and this program aims to prevent drug abuse among the younger generation, particularly students by providing knowledge, imparting behavioral skills and developing a system for self/group monitoring and support. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Around 29,000 students have been enrolled in this program and 19,523 Village Defense Committees have also been constituted across the State.

The Chief Minister said that drug problem in Punjab is impacting the socio-economic balance, leading to a significant increase in crime, domestic violence and health issues affecting not only the State but Country as a whole. He said that the Narco-Terror drug trade business in Punjab has links with the international cartels who smuggle drugs from Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Countries into the State. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that drug trade in Punjab is believed to be the source of funding of terrorist activities in the State leading to destabilizing National Security.

Batting for A national response to tackle problem of drug, the Chief Minister said that it is necessary to check this problem as it can imbalance the socio-economic structure of the society. He said that Increased and generous central funding is required to support anti-drug initiatives, rehabilitation services, awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Border Security Force (BSF) deployed on the Pakistan border in Punjab is required to be strengthened.

Raising another issue, the Chief Minister said that In the last five years, 1247 drone sightings have been reported and 417 drones have been recovered which is a minuscule of the total recovery as at present there are only 12 Jamming system operational on 552 kms of International Border. He said that these cater to only 1/5 of the entire border stretch and has 4/5 of the entire border is without Jamming system. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a huge cache of drugs and arms have been recovered so far adding that this recovery can be far more for which atleast, 50 more advanced technology Jamming Systems are required.

Chandigarh, January 11

Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has expressed deep grief over the demise of MLA Gurpreet Gogi.

In a press statement issued today, the Speaker said that 57-year-old Mr. Gurpreet Gogi was elected MLA from Ludhiana West in 2022. The Speaker remembered Gogi’s dedication to his work and said that Mr. Gogi and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal had a long discussion yesterday regarding re-converting Budha Nallah into Budha Darya.

The Speaker said that as a leader, he will always be remembered for his services to the society especially to the Ludhiana region.

The Speaker prayed before Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to family to bear loss.

Ludhiana, January 11:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday mourned the sad and untimely demise of MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi who passed away on Friday night.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister, who attend the cremation of deceased MLA, described Gogi as a hardworking, dedicated and committed colleague. He said that it was a huge personal loss for him and an irreparable loss for the Aam Aadmi party, as Gogi was a committed foot soldier of the party. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Gogi had worked tirelessly for the well being of people especially of his constituency.

The Chief Minister said that he was saddened to learn about the death of Gogi adding that the deceased leader has left a void in AAP and in hearts of the people. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann laid a wreath on the body of Gogi and prayed to the Almighty to give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss and grant eternal peace to the departed soul.

Chandigarh, January 10: Union Minister of Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Mr. Manohar Lal, today met with the residents of Kohand village in Karnal district to assess the availability of basic facilities. He said that, as part of an ongoing initiative, the government would prioritize expanding basic amenities in villages with populations exceeding 10,000 in the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency.

The Union Minister held the meeting at the Gharaunda PWD Rest House today, where he was welcomed by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Harvinder Kalyan, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers, and the villagers, who draped a shawl on him as a mark of respect.

During the meeting, Mr. Manohar Lal inquired about the conditions of local infrastructure, including schools, street lighting, roads (firnis), Gram Sachivalayas, ponds, crematoriums, parks, and gymnasiums. He emphasized that the expansion of basic facilities would begin in villages with populations above 10,000. In the second phase, attention would shift to villages with populations between 8,000 and 10,000, followed by those with populations between 5,000 and 8,000.

The Minister highlighted the importance of community involvement in the development process, urging the formation of committees comprising 10-12 local residents to monitor the progress of these initiatives. He added that the success of these programs was a testament to the system’s transformation, noting that, in the past decade, youth have been securing jobs based on merit, without resorting to bribes or undue expenditures.

Mr. Manohar Lal further said that substantial development had been achieved in the state over the past 10 years through revolutionary changes, but emphasized that the work was far from complete. The pace of development would continue in the future. He also pointed out that, unlike in the past when only 15 percent of the funds allocated for development were spent, now 100 percent of these funds are being utilized efficiently. He stressed that government funds should never be used for personal gain.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Harvinder Kalyan also praised the Union Minister, stating that since his appointment, Mr. Manohar Lal has visited 22 states, gaining comprehensive knowledge on various subjects. As the former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Lal had implemented numerous ground-level initiatives that have significantly benefited the people. Mr. Kalyan emphasized that the Union Minister remains dedicated to improving the living standards of the poor.

Chandigarh, January 10 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government will introduce a law aimed at strictly controlling illegal immigration. The proposed legislation will be presented in the upcoming budget session. In addition, the state government will soon unveil an ORP policy to reward police personnel for their exceptional service. This policy will not only recognize and encourage good work but will also the provision of strict action against any lapses in crime prevention.

The Chief Minister shared this information while interacting with media persons shortly after chairing state-level review meeting in Panchkula, which was held with senior police officers to assess crime and law and order in the state.

He mentioned that a detailed review of crime trends was conducted during the meeting. Notably, Haryana has witnessed a significant reduction in crime rates. In particular, incidents of crime against women have decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year, and the state has made commendable progress in addressing cybercrime, he added.

The Chief Minister also said that police officers have been instructed to take stringent action against crime and criminals. He assured that officers and personnel demonstrating excellence will be recognized, while those showing negligence will face strict disciplinary measures. He directed the police officers to be sensitive towards the public and work quickly to resolve their concerns.

Free hand to Haryana Police to crack down on crime – Chief Minister

The Chief Minister said that Haryana Police has been given a free hand to take strong action against crime and criminals. A target has also been given to further the de-addiction campaign, with the goal of making 70 percent of the villages drug-free by the end of 2025. Besides, instructions have been given to take strict action against those involved in the illegal drug trade.

He further said that instructions have been given to the police to launch a campaign targeting criminals involved in activities such as extortion calls made from abroad, as well as those aiding them within the country. The Chief Minister assured that the state government will provide the necessary resources to the police to support these efforts.

Haryana Police battalion to be established in Nuh district

He said that a battalion of Haryana Police will be established to strengthen law and order in Nuh district. For this, the concerned officer has also been instructed to identify land. He said that steps will also be taken to make Haryana 112 service more efficient and reduce the response time further. At present, the response time of 112 is about 6:30 minutes, it will be reduced further so that the criminals cannot escape.

Rs 300 crore to be spent on police modernization

The Chief Minister said that the state government had committed to implementing schemes worth Rs 300 crore for the modernization of the police force, as outlined in its election manifesto. Police department has been directed to prepare a detailed proposal and submit it to the state government at the earliest. He said that the police are continuously enhancing their infrastructure to effectively combat cybercrime, with the aim of completely curbing cyber fraud and apprehending cybercriminals.

Rohingyan and those coming from Bangladesh to be identified

In response to a question about the Rohingyan, the Chief Minister stated that Rohingya and those coming from Bangladesh will be identified, and a list will be compiled. Following this, appropriate decisions will be made about them.

In response to a question about individuals operating crime networks from abroad, the Chief Minister said that since this is an international issue, Haryana police regularly coordinates with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He said that progress has been made in some cases, and police will take strict action against criminals running illegal operations from outside the country, as well as their associates operating locally.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini also mentioned that three new criminal laws are being advanced rapidly, and the process is expected to be completed by February 28.

Regarding a question about the Interstate Crime Coordination Committee meeting, the Chief Minister shared that several meetings of the committee have been held. He added that it is asked in today’s meeting that a larger meeting should be organized periodically in Chief Minsters of states be invited to discuss and find ways to completely eradicate the drug trade. He said that the police should identify key locations in the drug supply chain—where drugs are sourced, where they are distributed, and where they are stopped—and take strict action against the perpetrators in order to protect the youth from falling victim to drug abuse.

Haryana should be number one in dismantling drug smuggling operations

Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the crime and law and order situation in the state with senior police officials and provided them with essential guidelines. He urged all Superintendents of Police (SPs) to focus on eradicating drug abuse in their respective districts to protect the youth. He said that no individual, regardless of their stature, should be spared if involved in the illegal drug trade. Strict punitive action should be taken against such offenders, he added. The Chief Minister expressed his goal for Haryana to become number one in dismantling drug smuggling operations and stressed that the police should foster a reputation of friendliness and approachability among the public.

He also directed the police to take stringent measures to curb cow smuggling cases. The Chief Minister discussed various issues, including the overall crime and law and order situation, the introduction of new criminal laws, cybercrime, complaint resolution, CCTV surveillance, and road and traffic safety. He provided necessary instructions to the officials to address these concerns effectively.

Chief Secretary Dr Vivek Joshi, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary Home Department Dr Sumita Misra, Director General of Police Sh Shatrujeet Kapur along with other DGPs, ADGPs, District Superintendents of Police were also present in the meeting.