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.

Chandigarh, January 10:

Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, State Information Commissioner of the Punjab State Information Commission, issued an order today imposing a one-year ban on Manjinder Singh, resident of  Kharar, District Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, from filing any further applications under the Punjab State Information Commission.

This order follows the instructions of the RTI Commission, in which on January 8, 2025, State Information Commissioner Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was conducting hearing about 70 cases related to RTI appeals filed by Manjinder Singh under the second appeal category. During the hearing, it was revealed that Manjinder Singh had been using RTIs of a fabricated nature to blackmail government employees and officials, influencing government work through corrupt practices. The Commission had repeatedly questioned the use of these RTIs in public interest, but no response was provided by Manjinder Singh.

The Commission further stated that in light of previous decisions by various higher courts concerning similar cases, and after considering these facts, the State Information Commissioner has imposed the one-year ban on filing applications with the Commission. Additionally, the fines and compensations imposed on officials in different RTI cases have been cancelled. Public authorities have been advised that if any future applications filed by Manjinder Singh under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005, are repetitive or excessively burdensome on the office, they should be ignored.

Chandigarh, January 10

Dr. Baljit Kaur, the Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, on Friday, chaired a special meeting with officials in Chandigarh to review various welfare schemes and initiatives being run by the department.

During the meeting, the Minister had an in-depth discussion with the Additional Chief Secretary of the department, Mr. Alok Shekhar and the Director, Mr. Sandeep Hans, regarding the functioning of the department and the outreach of its schemes to the public. The officials provided detailed information about the implementation of welfare schemes under the department.

The Minister discussed several key schemes during the meeting, including the Ashirwad Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship, Adarsh Gram Yojana, Prime Minister’s Abhyudaya Yojana, hostel-related schemes, and the buildings of Dr. Ambedkar Bhawans. She directed the officials to ensure that Dr. Ambedkar Bhawans in districts be used for gyms and libraries to benefit the public.

The Minister also emphasized that schemes such as low-interest loans under self-employment programs, the N.B.C. Scheme, and N.M.D. Welfare Schemes are being implemented to improve the social and economic standards of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, and minorities. She instructed that awareness camps be organized to ensure the direct benefit of these schemes reaches the people. Every citizen in the state should be made aware of these schemes to ensure they are not left behind.

The meeting was attended by the Director-cum-Joint Secretary of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Raj Bahadur Singh, Deputy Director Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, and other officials.

Chandigarh, January 10

Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO unveiled the 2025 calendars for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) here today.

The PSPCL calendar showcases captivating image of the Sri Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, Goindwal Sahib, alongside picture of function organised to induct the newly appointed personnel within the corporation. Additionally, it features a striking solar tree, symbolizing the corporation’s dedication to renewable energy. The PSTCL calendar, on the other hand, spotlights innovative initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s power transmission infrastructure.

while releasing these calendars, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO extended congratulations to both PSPCL and PSTCL for their commendable initiative. He expressed unwavering confidence that each day represented in these 2025 calendars will serve as a testament to the relentless efforts and dedication of both corporations.

Power Minister said that the initiatives taken by PSPCL and PSTCL are not just about dates on a calendar, but about their ongoing commitment to the development and welfare of the people of Punjab. He praised the corporations for their continued pursuit of excellence and their pivotal role in advancing the state’s power sector, ensuring that every day brings tangible progress and benefits to the people of the state.

Principal Secretary (Power) Ajoy Kumar Sinha, CMD PSPCL Er. Baldev Singh Sran and Director Admin PSPCL Jasbir Singh Sursingh were also present on this occasion.