Hold gram sabhas to ensure transparency and judicious use of money for development works in villages: Kejriwal to newly elected Sarpanchs
Congratulates Punjab for free, fair and transparent panchayat polls
Appeals Sarpanchs to perform their duty neutrally without any bias
CM administers oath of office to newly elected 10031 Sarpanchs from across state, in presence of Kejriwal
Gives clarion call to newly elected Sarpanchs for making villages drug free
Describes panchayats as foundation of democracy
Urge Sarpanchs to eliminate groupism from villages
Ludhiana, November 8:Former Delhi Chief Minister and National convenor of AAP on Friday gave a clarion call to newly elected Sarpanchs of state to hold gram panchayats in their respective villages for making every decision in full public view to ensure transparency in development works.
“It is imperative to ensure optimum utilisation of the public money for the welfare of public and comprehensive development of the villages”, said Kejriwal, who was the chief guest of a state level function in which Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann administered the oath of office to 10031 newly elected Sarpanchs from across the state.
The former Delhi Chief Minister said that the decisions pertaining to development of villages should be taken in gram sabhas for ensuring judicious utilisation of funds. He said that if Sarpanchs perform their duty well then they can transform the destiny of the common man and their villages. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government will extend full support to the Sarpanchs for every noble cause.
The former Delhi Chief Minister gave clarion call to the Sarpanchs for wiping out the curse of drugs from the state adding that with proactive role of Sarpanchs Punjab will be soon a drug free state. He said that the state government and Punjab Police is committed for this noble cause and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. Arvind Kejriwal said that Sarpanchs have a big role to play and they should discharge their duty effectively.
Former Delhi Chief Minister , while congratulating Punjabis for free, fair and transparent polls, welcomed all the Sarpanchs who have converged in the function. He expressed hope that after taking the oath these Sarpanchs will lead their villages to the path of development. Arvind Kejriwal said that it is heartening to learn that around 3000 panchayats have been elected unanimously which will give fillip to the development of villages.
The former Delhi Chief Minister said that Sarpanchs have to perform well and transform their villages in model one. He said that the Sarpanchs should discharge their duty well in a honest and transparent manner for well being of the villages. Arvind Kejriwal asked the Sarpanchs to take every decision of the after due consultation with the villagers adding that Sarpanchs can play a major role in overall development of the villages.
Meanwhile, in his address the Punjab Chief Minister congratulated all the Sarpanchs for their election to the prestigious post. He said that in the recently concluded elections for Panchayats, 13147 new panchayats have been elected. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in today’s state level function 10031 sarpanches from 19 districts of Punjab are being administered oath.
The Chief Minister said that oath taking ceremony of other newly elected Sarpanches of remaining four districts namely Sri Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Barnala and Gurdaspur and of 81,808 newly elected Panches of 23 districts will be held after the by-elections of four Vidhan Sabha constituencies namely Giddarbaha, Chabewal, Barnala and Dera Baba Nanak. He expressed gratitude to the villages who have elected panchayats unanimously. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these villages have risen above the parochial considerations and elected their sarpanchs unanimously to strengthen ethos of harmony and brotherhood in villages on one hand and ensuring their comprehensive development on the other.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the panchayats of 3037 villages were selected unanimously in the state and Ferozepur district took the lead by selecting 336 panchayats unanimously followed by Gurdaspur (335) and Tarn Taran (334). He said that the wise voters of Punjab have bestowed a huge responsibility to all Sarpanchs and they should discharge it meticulously. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he was indebted to the voters of the state who have enthusiastically participated in these polls in a free and fair manner.
The Chief Minister said that Panchayats are known as ‘foundations of democracy’ as they have immense power and its decision are obeyed by entire village respectfully. He said that now when people of state have given Sarpanchs this power so it is their bounden duty to safeguard their interests and cherish their aspirations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that around 70% population of our country lives in village due to which Panchayati Raj Institutions are seen as ‘lighthouse of democracy’.
The Chief Minister said that these institutions act as a catalyst for disseminating the benefits of pro-people and development oriented schemes of state government at grassroots level. He said that the policies are framed by the state government and Sarpanches/ Panches play a major role in implementing them at ground level. Bhagwant Singh Mann urged all Sarpanchs to rededicate themselves for the development works from today.
The Chief Minister said that Schools, dispensaries, veterinary hospitals and several other works of public importance are already under direct supervision of panchayats. Likewise, he said that various works pertaining to development of villages are also undertaken under their guidance. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Sarpanchs should ensure supervision of these works and services in a dedicated manner.
The Chief Minister gave clarion call to Sarpanchs that they should remain away from any sort of undue interference in these works. He said that it is very unfortunate that several works in villages are jeopardised due to widespread groupism in the villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Sarpanchs must accord top priority to abolish groupism in the villages.
The Chief Minister said that in a democracy the person or party who attains majority is the winner but once elected Sarpanch belongs to whole village. He said that sarpanch should treat every resident of village equally and decisions must be taken neutrally. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there are several sarpanches of the village who have transformed their villages with their wiseness and farsightedness.
The Chief Minister said that every third house in our village of the NRIs and the Sarpanch should come forward and coordinate with the NRIs to ensure that they become active partner in development of villages. He said that Sarpanchs should also accord major thrust on making their villages drug free to wean away the youth from menace of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann also said that Sarpanchs should also work hard for cementing the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood in the villages.
The Chief Minister said that it is imperative to give further fillip to the pace of development and prosperity in the villages. He said that Punjab government is committed for overall development and progress of the villages and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Sarpanches are a bridge between government and the villages and you should play a big role in development of villages.
The Chief Minister assured Sarpanchs that there is no dearth of funds for undertaking developmental work in villages. He asked the Sarpanchs to prioritise the development work of their villages so that state government can get the work started on it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the panchayats must pass resolution for holistic development of the villages adding that state government will leave no stone unturned for it.
The Chief Minister urged all to play a proactive role in transforming the villages of the state by starting a constructive campaign so that we can carve out a Rangla Punjab. He also asked the Sarpanchs to work hard for making villages clean, green and pollution free. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that health, education, power, water and infrastructure are top five priorities of his government.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has given more than 45000 jobs to the youth of the state in a transparent manner. He said that 90% households of the state are getting free power due to the concerted efforts of the Punjab government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that state government has roped in a number of top industrialists like Tata steel and others who will provide jobs to the local youth.
The Chief Minister said that while earlier governments plundered the wealth of the state and country, the AAP government is focusing solely on development. He said that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has shown a new way to people and the state government is working as per his vision to benefit the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured the people that the state government will ensure progress of the state and prosperity of people.
On the occasion Cabinet Ministers, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs, MLAs and other dignitaries were also present.
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Vigilance Bureau registers corruption case against CIA staff ASI, Senior Constable for demanding Rs 60,000 bribe from drug trafficker
Senior Constable arrested, VB searching other accused
Chandigarh, November 8, 2024 –The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in line with the zero-tolerance policy against corruption adopted by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has filed a corruption case against an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Baljinder Singh (No. 890/Mks) and Senior Constable Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi (No. 183/Mks), both posted at CIA staff Malout, Muktsar district, for demanding bribe from a drug trafficker. In this case Senior Constable Gurpreet Singh Gopi has been arrested and efforts are underway to arrest the second accused.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against these police officials following an investigation into a complaint lodged by Balbir Singh, alias Bira, a resident of Sherawala village in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line.
According to the complaint, these police personnel had demanded a bribe of Rs 2,50,000 to avoid registering a false case for a large recovery of narcotic pills and drugs against him, later agreeing to accept Rs 60,000 as bribe.
He further informed that during the investigation, recordings submitted by the complainant confirmed that Senior Constable Gurpreet Singh initially demanded Rs 2,50,000 and later reduced it to Rs 60,000, while ASI Baljinder Singh explicitly agreed to take this bribe. This evidence established that both officers colluded in demanding a bribe.
Based on this investigative report, a case has been registered against both the police personnel prevention of corruption act at the VB Police Station, Bathinda range. Senior Constable Gurpreet Singh of the CIA staff Malout has been arrested, and further investigation into this case was under progress. Efforts are also underway to arrest the other accused, ASI Baljinder Singh, soon, he said.
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PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS TWO OPERATIVES OF PORTUGAL-BASED MANNU GHANSHAMPURIA GANG; GLOCK AMONG FOUR PISTOLS RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— ARRESTED ACCUSED PERSONS WERE WORKING ON DIRECTIONS OF USA-BASED HANDLERS DONI BAL AND PRABH DASUWAL, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— PROBE REVEALS MANNU GHANSHAMPURIA AND DONI BAL ARRANGED WEAPON CONSIGNMENT, PLANNING TO COMMIT HEINOUS CRIMES: DGP PUNJAB
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, November 8:In a major blow to illegal arms smuggling networks, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar apprehended two operatives of Portugal-based gangster Manpreet Singh alias Mannu Ghanshampuria, further uncovering their links to major USA-based criminals Balwinder Singh alias Doni Bal and Prabhdeep Singh alias Prabh Dasuwal, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Those arrested have been identified as Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan, a resident of Lahori Gate in Amritsar and Ravinder Singh, a resident of village Akarpura in Gurdaspur. Police teams have also recovered four weapons including one sophisticated 9MM Glock pistol, two foreign-made .30 bore pistols and one .32 bore pistol along with five magazines and 14 live cartridges from their possession.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intel-led operation, teams from CI Amritsar laid a special naka at Mehta Road near cattle market, Amritsar and both the individuals when they were travelling on their black colour Splendor Motorcycle bearing registration number PB18Z5033. Police teams have also impounded their motorcycle, he added.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested accused Aditya Kapoor is having 12 criminal cases registered against him and was operating on the directions of USA-based criminals Doni Bal and Prabh Dasuwal. The latter are close associates of Gangster Mannu Ghanshampuria, who is brother of Gangster Gopi Ghanshampuria, he said.
The DGP said that these crime syndicates are rivals of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime syndicate. Probe has also found that the arrested persons have received the weapon consignment arranged by Doni Bal and Mannu Ghanshampuria and were hatching a conspiracy to commit some heinous crimes in the state on their directions, he said.
He said that further investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case.
In this regard, an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act at Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.
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Defence welfare department is going to start Special Drive For Ex-Servicemen and the widows for Uploading their live Certificates: Mohinder Bhagat
Chandigarh, November 8 - The Defence welfare department of Punjab government is going to start Special Drive For Ex-Servicemen and the widows to Upload their Live Certificates. Disclosing this here today Mohinder Bhagat said that welfare of the ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents living in Punjab is always on the priority list and it has been making efforts from time to time to fulfill this genuine demands. At present there are total of 4,33,000 ex-servicemen and widows in Punjab. In the recent past, the pension of ex-servicemen and widows is disbursed through the SPARSH system. All these pensioners are required to upload their Live Certificates on SPARSH in the month of November so that their pension wil remain continue.
The Cabinet Minister informed that large number of ex-servicemen and their widows are not familiar with modern tools of information, due to which they are facing difficulties in uploading their live certificates. Pertinently, the Sparash system has been adopted for pension disbursement recently and the pensioners didn’t have complete knowledge about it. For the convenience of these pensioners, uploading their live certificates through Sparash system is being carried out in all District Defence Services Offices from 11 November 2024 to 22 November 2024 under the supervision of Cdr Baljinder Virk (Retd), District Defense Services Welfare Officer, Amritsar (Nodal Officer). Special camps are being organized so that they do not face any sort of difficulty in uploading live certificates through Sparash system.
During this Special Camps, Help Desks will also be set up separately at all the District Defence Services Welfare Offices, under Sparsh banner. Necessary IT infrastructure is being arranged for this purpose. Along with this, it is also informed that we have contacted ICICI Bank which has agreed to provide their teams for establishing the Help Desks.
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Would fight tooth & nail for protecting status of Panjab University: Meet Hayer
Lok Sabha MP writes to Vice President for Senate elections of Panjab University
Union Government out to destroy Panjab University as part of a deliberate conspiracy
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led government fought decisively against centralization of university
Chandigarh, November 8:The Member of Parliament from Sangrur Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has lashed out at the Union Government for indulging in a conspiracy of the most heinous nature to destroy the Panjab University, Chandigarh and said that this would not be taken lying down and struggle would be waged tooth and nail on every front to keep its status intact.
The MP has written a letter to the Vice Chancellor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Chancellor of the university, with regard to conducting elections to the Senate of the institution. He mentioned that earlier too, the Union Government tried a devious ploy to snatch away the university from Punjab by deciding to go in for the centralization of the university but owing to the fierce opposition of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government the Union Government had to step back. A resolution was also passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha against the centralization of the Panjab University.
Meet Hayer further divulged that the spirit of democracy is being muzzled by not conducting the elections to the Senate which runs the university. Reiterating the commitment of the State Government on the issues of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat, Meet Hayer appealed to the Vice President to immediately intervene in the matter.
In the letter to the Vice President, Meet Hayer also wrote that, No assault or erosion of the Status of the Panjab University would be tolerated as it is our heritage and its status dates back to the pre-partition era. The institution is the crown of the State of Punjab. Hence, I appeal that the senate elections to the university must be held sooner.
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OVER 48% LIVESTOCK INOCULATED AGAINST FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE WITHIN 18 DAYS, SAYS GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN
* Five Flying Squad teams formed to verify immunisation data and visit livestock farms for efficient execution of statewide drive
* Animal Husbandry dept procures 55.86 lakh disposal syringes with needles and other logistics worth Rs. 1.08 crore
Chandigarh, November 8: Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Friday that more than 48 percent of the state livestock have been vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) within just 18 days of the statewide mass-immunisation drive, which was commenced on October 21.
He further stated that five teams of flying squads have been formed to assess the effectiveness of the immunisation drive. Each team has been assigned to cover four to five districts to verify the FMD immunisation data and visit livestock farms across the state. Out of a total of 65,47,407 livestock in the state, over 31.48 lakh cattle have been administered with the FMD vaccine by 816 teams of the Animal Husbandry department. He directed the department authorities to ensure that all livestock are vaccinated against FMD by November 30.
While urging livestock farmers to take advantage of the drive to protect their cattle from FMD, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian mentioned that the Punjab Animal Husbandry department has set up a control room at the state level, along with district-level control rooms at the offices of the Deputy Directors of the Animal Husbandry department. The department has also provided a helpline number, 0172-5086064, to assist livestock farmers.
Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Mr. Rahul Bhandari, stated that the department has procured 55.86 lakh disposal syringes with needles and other logistics at a cost of Rs. 1.08 crore to ensure the smooth and efficient execution of the mass inoculation drive. He also emphasised that the vaccine is being administered free of cost to the entire livestock population in the state and asked the officials concerned to effectively maintain the cold chain, besides sensitising livestock farmers about the benefits of the immunisation drive.
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