GURMEET KHUDIAN BATS FOR EARLY APPROVAL TO NEXT GEN BG COTTON SEED TO TACKLE PEST ATTACKS
* Thanks Union Agriculture Minister for giving go ahead to SASA
* Pressed for reinstating 100% central funding for CRM scheme
Chandigarh/ New Delhi, July 18:Expressing deep concern over pest attacks especially Pink Bollworm and whitefly attack on cotton crop, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on Thursday, sought Union Agriculture Minister Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan's personal intervention in speeding research and approval to the Next Generation BG-3 cotton seeds.
The Punjab Agriculture Minister, who called on the Union Agriculture Minister Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, apprised that current generation BG-2 cotton need to be changed by an advanced seed to make this crop resistant to pest attacks.
Meanwhile, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian thanked Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan for granting approval to State Agricultural Statistics Authority (SASA) as this Authority would be a boon to strengthen the planning, monitoring, evaluating, research and development in the field of agriculture in the state.
The Punjab Agriculture Minister also apprised the Union Minister about the agrarian concerns of the state including implementation of Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme, release of funds under RKVY, incentives to manage paddy straw and consistent & continuous supply of fertilisers and subsidy on wheat seed replacement scheme.
Raising the major concern of the state regarding CRM scheme, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the Central Government has changed the funding pattern of CRM scheme to 60:40 (Centre:State) in FY 2023-24, which was earlier 100 per cent centrally sponsored. He urged the Union Agriculture Minister to reinstate the 100% central funding for the CRM scheme keeping in view the contribution of Punjab to national food security. He also sought incentive on per acre basis as compensation to farmers in lieu of the additional cost to be incurred on management of paddy straw.
The Punjab Minister also brought into the notice of Sh. Chouhan that shortage of phosphatic fertilisers generally occurs during the Rabi season, and appealed him to direct the concerned authorities to ensure the continuous supply of phosphatic fertilisers in this season.
Adding further, S. Khudian said that about Rs 20 Crore are being invested annually under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme as per the ICAR policy to replace 33% seed every year. "However, the Gol has stopped this assistance on wheat seed, which need to be continued for the larger interest of feeding the ever-increasing population of the country" said Punjab Agriculture Minister.
Special Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr. KAP Sinha, Director Agriculture Jaswant Singh other senior officials of the department and ministry were also present in the meeting.
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PVS SPEAKER KULTAR SINGH SANDHWAN MOURNS PASSING OF JASPAL SINGH HERAN
Chandigarh, July 18- Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today expressed profound grief over the demise of S. Jaspal Singh Heran, the Chief Editor of Punjabi vernacular newspaper.
In an official statement released here, Speaker S. Sandhwan said that the news of the passing of S. Jaspal Singh Heran, editor-in-chief of "Pehredar", is deeply saddening. S. Heran had been ailing for some time. S. Sandhwan noted that S. Heran had a distinguished career as a journalist with various Punjabi publications. He said that S. Heran would be remembered with reverence for his invaluable contributions to Panthic journalism.
The Speaker extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to endure this irreparable loss.
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EIGHT MORE CADETS OF MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH AFPI JOINED NDA & OTHER DEFENCE ACADEMIES
160 alumni of the Institute commissioned as officers in Defence Services so far, says Aman Arora
Aman Arora wishes the cadets all the very best for future
Chandigarh, July 18: Adding another feather in the cap into Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) SAS Nagar, as many as eight more alumni of the Institute have joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) and equivalent training academies in this month. Amongst these, Cadet Navjot Singh Gill ranked 11th in the All India merit.
Congratulating the cadets on joining the prestigious NDA to become defence officers, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that with the joining of these 08 cadets- Navjot Singh Gill, Vivaan Sooden, Karanveer Singh Gill, Prathyush Singh Bedi, Mankaran Singh Dhillon, Anmol Banka, Pranav Thakur and Akkiready Sai Vedansh, a total of 237 cadets of this Institute have joined different Service Training Academies since its inception.
He further informed that as many as 160 alumni of this Institute have also been commissioned as officers in the Defence Services.
He said that the government is committed to fulfil the aspirations of Punjab’s youth, who want to join the defence services as commissioned officers. He said that it’s matter of great pride for the state that with a selection rate of 56.64% the Institute is the most successful of its kind in the Country.
Major General Ajay H. Chauhan (Retd), the Director of Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI said that these cadets will prove to be an asset for the country, while exhorting them to live upto their calling and true soldiers of the Nation. He stated that as on date SSBs are going on for the courses and the cadets of this Institute are being recommended in the same. The cadets would have to undergo their medicals before they get their call letters.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests Deed Writer, Stamp Vender for accepting Rs 30,000 bribe
VB recovers Rs 8,90,000 during accuseds' house search
Chandigarh, July 18, 2024 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Thursday has apprehended Deed Writer Subash Chander and his brother Ramesh Chander, a Stamp Vender, residing at village Taloor, tehsil Narot Jaimal Singh, Pathankot district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 on behalf of Naib Tehsildar, Narot Jaimal Singh. During search of their house at village Taloor, the VB team recovered a cash amounting to Rs 8,90,000 and the duo could not give satisfactory details of this cash.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accessed were arrested based on a complaint lodged by Sukhvir Pal, a resident of village Kohliyan, Pathankot district.
He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged in his complaint, that the said accused had demanded Rs 30,000 for registry of his plot on behalf of Naib Tehsildar, Narot Jaimal Singh.
He further informed that after preliminary enquiry of this complaint the VB team laid a trap in which the both the accused were caught red handed accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation was under progress, he said.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests Assistant Sub Inspector for taking Rs 10,000 bribe
Previously received Rs 10,000 bribe from complainant
Chandigarh July 18, 2024 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday has arrested Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gurmel Singh, posted at police station Ferozepur city for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned police personnel have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Raj Kumar, a resident of Balluana, district Ferozepur.
He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and informed that a police case was registered against his brother Madan Lal, ASI, in the Ferozepur city police station in July 2023 and the aforementioned ASI Gurmel Singh was investigating officer (IO) in this case. He further alleged that Gurmel Singh had taken Rs 10,000 at the time of filing this case against his brother. Afterwards his brother died in an accident and the said IO Gurmel Singh has to submit a report in the court about the demise of his brother so that the family could apply for government job on compassionate basis.
The complainant alleged in his complaint that the said ASI was again demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 for this motive.
The spokesperson added that after preliminary verification of the allegations levelled in the complaint, the VB team laid a trap in which the said ASI Gurmel Singh was arrested while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
He informed that in this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the said ASI at VB police station Ferozepur range. Further investigation into this case was under progress.
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PUNJAB POLICE AVERT POSSIBLE TARGET KILLINGS WITH ARREST OF OPERATIVE OF BKI-MODULE; ONE PISTOL RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A CRIME-FREE STATE AS DESIRED BY CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— USA-BASED TERRORIST HAPPY PASSIAN TASKED ARRESTED ACCUSED TO CARRY OUT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN PUNJAB: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ARRESTED ACCUSED VIKRAMJIT RECENTLY RETRIEVED WEAPON CONSIGNMENT SENT BY HAPPY PASSIAN
Chandigarh/Amritsar, July 18:Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police thwarted possible target killings with the arrest of a member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)-backed terror module, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday. The module is being operated by USA-based wanted terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian— a close aide of designated terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, along with his Italy-based associate Resham Singh.
The arrested accused has been identified as Vikramjit Singh, a resident of Ghaniye Ke Bangar in Batala. Police teams have also recovered one .32 bore pistol along with two magazines, nine live cartridges and one empty bullet shell from his possession, besides impounding his Royal Enfield Motorcycle.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar had received an intel input that Happy Passian along with his associate Resham Singh is planning a major criminal activity in Punjab and for this purpose, they have tasked their foot soldier Vikramjit Singh, who was travelling towards Chamrang Road, Amritsar on his Royal Enfield motorcycle.
Acting swiftly, the team of SSOC Amritsar cordoned off the specified area and apprehended accused Vikramjit Singh, he said, while adding that during search, police teams have recovered a pistol along with ammunition from his possession.
The DGP said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused was carrying out illegal activities on the directions of his foreign-based handlers. Further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he added.
Sharing more details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that it was discovered that accused Vikramjit was in touch with Resham Singh for the last 5-6 years and a few months ago, Resham Singh has introduced him to Happy Passian to work as his foot soldier. Happy Passian has also been arranging delivery of weapons and ammunition to his gang-members and in this series, accused Vikramjit Singh recently procured a consignment to carry out Happy Passian’s nefarious plans, he said.
In this regard, a case FIR No. 43 dated 16.07.2024 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and 61 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell Amritsar.