Finance Minister Harpal Singh Calls for Taking Inspiration from Lala Lajpat Rai's Life
Remembers contribution of Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai in the struggle for independence
Announces Development Grant of Rs 25 lakh for various development works in Dhudike
On 96th Sacrifice Day of Lala Lajpar Rai, pays respect and reverence at village Dhudike
Dhudike/Chandigarh, November 17- The 96th Sacrifice Day of the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, was celebrated today at his birthplace, village Dhudike, with full reverence and respect. The event saw the presence of Finance Minister Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema as the chief guest and MLA Nihal Singh Wala Mr. Manjit Singh Bilaspur as the special guest.
In his address, Finance Minister Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted the significant contribution of Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai to the freedom struggle. He emphasized that every Indian is proud of the martyrdom and sacrifices of Lala Lajpat Rai and all the freedom fighters, whose efforts have allowed us to breathe freely in an independent nation. He noted that Lala Lajpat Rai was not only a great freedom fighter but also a leader of the Swadeshi movement.
Responding to the demands of the villagers and the panchayat, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced the release of ₹25 lakh for various development works in the village. These include ₹10 lakh for a gym with four new parks, ₹10 lakh for the Lala Lajpat Rai Birthplace Memorial Committee, and ₹5 lakh for the Desh Bhagat Sports Club. Additionally, the minister accepted the demand for setting up a waste management treatment plant in the village with immediate effect.
Mr. Manjit Singh Bilaspur, MLA Nihal Singh Wala in his remarks, acknowledged the historical significance of village Dhudike, the birthplace of Lala Lajpat Rai and many other freedom fighters. He stated that their contributions to the freedom struggle can never be forgotten and continue to inspire the younger generation to develop a sense of patriotism.
The occasion was also graced by the former Minister Mrs. Malti Thapar, Vice Chairman of Lala Lajpat Rai Janamasthan Yadgar Committee Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhanna, Secretary Rajjung Singh, current and former Sarpanches, students, and other dignitaries.
Earlier, Finance Minister Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema, MLA Nihal Singh Wala Mr. Manjit Singh Bilaspur, and other attendees paid homage to Lala Lajpat Rai by offering floral garlands at his statue and remembering his sacrifice. They also visited the library and other historical sites in the village and presented floral wreaths at the monument built in memory of the other village martyrs. The students of local schools presented songs and group performances, adding to the occasion's solemnity. The Lala Lala Lajpat Rai Janamasthan Yadgar Committee also honoured prominent personalities during the ceremony.
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PVS Speaker Sandhwan to administer oath to newly-elected panchayat members in Faridkot on Nov 19
Chandigarh, November 17:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan will officiate the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected panchayat members of Faridkot district on November 19.
An official spokesperson of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha informed that the district-level induction ceremony will take place at Nehru Stadium, Faridkot, where Speaker S. Sandhwan will formally induct the new Panchayat representatives into office.
Notably, the event follows the recent statewide ceremony in Ludhiana on November 8, where 10,031 newly elected sarpanches took their oath of office.
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PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS KINGPIN OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ROBBERS GANG AFTER A BRIEF EXCHANGE OF FIRE; PISTOL RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— SATTI GANG WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN RECENT LATE NIGHT ARMED ROBBERIES AT NATIONAL HIGHWAY, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ACCUSED SATTI SUSTAINED BULLET INJURY ON HIS RIGHT LEG IN RETALIATORY FIRE: SSP DEEPAK PAREEK
CHANDIGARH/SAS NAGAR, November 17: In a major breakthrough, SAS Nagar Police has arrested kingpin of a highway robbers/snatchers gang after a brief exchange of fire near village Lehli and recovered .32 calibre pistol along with five live cartridges from his posession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Satpreet Singh alias Satti, a resident of Dandrala in SAS Nagar. Police teams have also impounded the Platina motorcycle he was riding.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused has a criminal history with criminal cases pertaining to snatching and robbery registered against him. The Satti's gang primarily targetted halted vehicles on Ambala-Dera Bassi highway and was involved in multiple robberies/snatching incidents in Punjab and Haryana, he added.
He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused Satti along with his other three associates, was involved in recent two late night Robberies/Snatching took place at the Highway on 3rd and 10th of November, 2024 in which cash, mobile and gold ornaments were robbed at a gunpoint in Lalru area of Sub-Division Dera Bassi.
The DGP said that further investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest his other associates.
Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) SAS Nagar Deepak Pareek said that during investigation of the robbery/snatching incidents, a credible information about this robbers gang headed by Satti was received that corresponded with the facts and the evidence gathered in the recent late-night incidents at Lalru.
Acting swiftly, the team led by DSP Dera Bassi Bikramjit Singh Brar worked on human and technical inputs and traced Satti's movement near village Lehli, he said, while adding that when police teams were chasing accused Satti, who was riding the motorcycle, the latter opened fire on the police team.
The SSP said that three fire shots hit the official police vehicle and in the retaliation fire by police teams, accused Satti sustained a bullet injury on his right leg. Further investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest other associates of Satti, he said.
A case FIR no 171 has been registered under sections 109, 132 and 221 Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Lalru.
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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS NARCO-ARMS SMUGGLING CARTEL; TWO HELD
— POLICE TEAMS RECOVER 3.5KG HEROIN, 1.5KG METHAQUALONE AND GLOCK AMONG TWO PISTOLS FROM THEIR POSSESSION: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— MORE ARRESTS AND RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED IN COMING DAYS: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, November 17: In a major breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted trans-border narco smuggling and arms cartel with the arrest of two persons and seized 3.5 Kg Heroin, 1.5 kg Methaqualone and two pistols including one sophisticated 9MM Glock from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
Those arrested have been identified as Vansh alias Billa (23), a resident of Billai Wala Chowk in Amritsar and Sonu Chaurasia (20), a resident of Dashmesh Nagar in Amritsar.
The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case.
Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that following reliable inputs about the involvement of accused Vansh alias billa in smuggling of narcotis, Police teams from CIA Amritsar laid a trap and arrested him from Mohkampura area and recovered 3.5 Kg heroin, 1.5Kg Methaqualone powder and one Austria made 9MM Glock pistol from his possession.
He said that in another operation based on intel-inputs about the illegal weapon smuggling, Police teams nabbed accused Sonu Chaurasia from Suncity turn at Batala road in the area of Mohkampura and recovered .32 bore pistol from his possession. Further investigations are on and more arrests and recoveries are expected in coming days, he said.
In this regard, two separate cases including Fir No. 98 dated 14-11-2024 under section 21-C and 29 of the NDPS Act and section 25(8) of the Arms Act and FIR No 97 dated 14-11-24 under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Mohkampura have been registered against them.
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₹5.31-CR PROJECT TO ESTABLISH MILK RECORDING POTENTIAL OF HF COWS IN THREE DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB
•Approx. 13K HF cows' milk production to be recorded in 90 villages of Ludhiana, Moga and Fatehgarh Sahib, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
•Govt will also facilitate purchase of male HF calves
Chandigarh, November 17:Punjab Government is all set to initiate a project to identify and establish the milk recording potential of the Holstein Friesian (H.F.) cows for boosting the profitability of the dairy farming sector in the state.
Sharing details about the project worth Rs. 5.31 crores, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the project will be kicked off in the first week of December 2024 and the Project Supervisors, along with local staff from the Animal Husbandry department, will identify eligible H.F. breed cows for milk recording.
He further said around 13,000 Holstein Friesian (H.F.) breed cows' milk production will be recorded in 90 villages across three districts including Ludhiana, Moga and Fatehgarh Sahib for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Farmers will milk the selected cows at their homes as usual, with a Milk Recorder provided to collect data on milk output using a GPS-enabled smart weighing scale. This data will be automatically uploaded to the national database, making it accessible to farmers, government agencies and other stakeholders across the nation. Complete milk recording will take place 2-3 times a day, depending on the farmer's convenience, for a duration of 10 months, he added.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that this initiative will empower livestock farmers to identify the genetic potential and germ plasm of their cows, besides assisting them in making informed decisions on breeding and management for enhanced productivity, besides establishing the milk recording potential of these cows.
The Animal Husbandry Minister further stated that the state government will also facilitate the purchase of male HF calves delivered by these animals, which will further enhance the value of animals. With the launch of this project, unemployed educated youth of these villages will have the opportunity to earn income as milk recorders. Additionally, this initiative will boost the animal husbandry sector in the state, besides helping to mitigate the issue of stray animals over time.
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Empowering the Marginalized: Legal Luminaries Discuss Social Justice at Regional Conference of State Legal Services Authorities
Chandigarh, November 17-The Regional Conference of the State Legal Services Authorities, themed "Empowering the Marginalized and a Step Towards Social Justice," was successfully organised on November 17th, 2024, at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy.
The pivotal event was graced by the esteemed presence of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The conference marked a significant milestone in discussions on social justice and empowerment for marginalized communities. The conference opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp followed by a series of insightful addresses.
In a heartfelt welcome by the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, he expressed a warm greeting to the assembled dignitaries, highlighting the pivotal role of the Legal Services Authorities across Punjab, Haryana, and U.T. Chandigarh in making justice accessible for all, particularly the marginalized. The Hon’ble Chief Justice detailed the comprehensive initiatives undertaken, such as prison reforms and legal literacy campaigns, aiming to bridge the gap between legal provisions and societal needs. His address stressed the significant progress made in extending the reach of justice through robust legal aid mechanisms and the introduction of technological innovations like QR codes for legal payments, enhancing efficiency and accessibility in legal processes.
In his comprehensive address, Sh Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, elaborated on the multifaceted legal initiatives underway in the State of Himachal Pradesh. He detailed how the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority is deeply committed to ensuring that no citizen is left behind due to economic or other disabilities. His address highlighted efforts to spread legal awareness and provide legal services across marginalized and intersectional communities, focusing on rural areas, slums, and labor colonies. The address emphasied on the ongoing mission to deepen the impact of legal services, ensuring that they reach the most vulnerable sections of society, effectively bridging the gap between legal rights and societal needs.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, passionately discussed the theme of empowering marginalized communities towards social justice. He highlighted the comprehensive efforts of the J&K and Ladakh Legal Services Authorities in delivering legal services and ensuring justice, emphasizing the role of legal aid as a tool for social change. His speech detailed initiatives like Lok Adalats, legal literacy drives, and community outreach programs that aim to bring justice to the most remote areas, underscoring the commitment to uphold the right to life and personal liberty as enshrined in the Constitution.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of Indiam in his address underscored the pivotal role of Legal Services Authorities in advancing the cause of social justice for marginalized communities, including specially-abled persons, child victims, and those affected by socio-economic disparities. Highlighting the constitutional commitment to equality and dignity, he called for innovative strategies to bridge the gap between legal rights and vulnerable populations.
Justice Surya Kant asseted the importance of empowering children, describing them as one of the most vulnerable groups in Indian society. Drawing on alarming statistics about child rights violations, malnourishment, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, he urged a collective focus on ensuring their safety, education, and holistic development. He also touched upon critical issues like child labor, children awaiting adoption, and the unique challenges faced by children of migrant workers, advocating for systemic reforms to protect their rights.
Furthermore, Justice Surya Kant outlined a forward-looking roadmap for Legal Services Authorities, urging enhanced legal literacy campaigns, inter-agency collaboration, evidence-based policymaking, and continuous feedback mechanisms to improve service delivery. He concluded by emphasizing that true justice lies in societal care for the vulnerable, calling for a unified commitment to eradicating marginalization and fostering a just, equitable society.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice B.R. Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India, discussed the critical role of legal services in empowering marginalized communities and ensuring social justice. He highlighted the importance of Article 39A of the Constitution, which mandates free legal aid to all citizens. Justice Gavai shed light on the plight of undertrial prisoners, outlining the efforts by Legal Services Authorities to provide timely and effective legal representation.
He elaborated on significant initiatives, including NALSA's Standard Operating Procedures for legal aid clinics in prisons, which ensure that prisoners are aware of and exercise their legal rights. Justice Gavai also discussed innovative programs such as the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System and campaigns targeting juvenile justice and rehabilitation. He urged greater action to address gaps in legal aid at pre-arrest, arrest, and remand stages, underscoring the need for reforms to protect the families of incarcerated individuals and ensure their reintegration into society.
Justice Gavai concluded his speech with a call for collective efforts to strengthen legal aid mechanisms and uphold the dignity, equality, and rights of all citizens, particularly those most vulnerable.
During the Regional Conference, the "Scheme of Victim Care and Support System" was officially launched, underscoring a significant step in providing holistic care to victims of crime. Additionally, a dedicated video focused on drug awareness was unveiled to highlight the importance of addressing substance abuse issues. An innovative app was also introduced, aimed at streamlining access to legal services and resources, ensuring greater reach and efficiency in delivering justice and support to those in need.
In the Vote of Thanks, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Executive Chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.R. Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India, and other dignitaries for their invaluable presence and insightful contributions to the conference. He acknowledged the guidance provided by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.G. Masih, along with the organizing committee members, including Justice Arun Palli, Justice Lisa Gill, and Justice Alka Sarin, for their efforts in shaping the event.
Justice Sandhawalia emphasized the importance of collective commitment toward achieving accessible justice and highlighted the impactful initiatives discussed during the conference. He expressed confidence that the knowledge gained would significantly strengthen efforts to improve the legal aid delivery system. Concluding with an inspirational quote by John Wesley, he encouraged everyone to persistently contribute to building a just and inclusive legal framework.