Punjab: The New Heartland of Farm and Adventure Tourism: Sond

- Year 2025 begins with vibrant fairs and festivals on a grander scale

- Punjab Govt initiated the restoration work of the historic Jahaz Haveli

Chandigarh, February 27:As Punjab steps into 2025, its fairs and festivals are set to be celebrated on a grander scale, drawing tourists from across the globe. The year began with vibrant events such as the Basant Mela in Ferozepur, the iconic Rural Olympics in Kila Raipur and the Patiala Heritage Festival in Patiala. These celebrations not only honor Punjab’s rich traditions but also position the state as a top tourist destination.

Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasized that under CM Mann’s dynamic leadership, Punjab is reclaiming its stature as a premier travel hotspot. The government’s commitment to heritage restoration and tourism expansion has brought forth a series of transformative initiatives that showcase Punjab’s deep-rooted history, vibrant culture, and spiritual legacy.

The state government had also taken a crucial step in preserving Sikh heritage by initiating the restoration of Jahaz Haveli, the historic residence of Dewan Todar Mall in Fatehgarh Sahib. Diwan Todar Mall, who bought the land for the cremation of younger sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Zorawar Singh, Baba Fateh Singh, and Mata Gujri Ji after their martyrdom, in its original form will be carried out by the Diwan Todar Mall Virasti Foundation, Punjab.

Punjab under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is also emerging as a major hub for farm tourism in India, which is transforming the tourism landscape. Sond said that the Punjab government is working on a large scale to develop farm, rural, and agro-tourism. As a result, the village of Hansali in Fatehgarh Sahib district was recently named Best Village of India in September 2024. Farm tourism is not only beneficial for the local economy but also boosts farmers’ income, creating fresh opportunities within the tourism sector.

Sond said that, Punjab boasts numerous sacred sites, martyrs’ villages, water bodies, and hidden tourist gems. Today i.e. February 27, in holy land of district Rupnagar, the Punjab Govt. has also initiated boating and water adventure activities (opposite Dastan e Shahadat) at Sri Chamkaur Sahib.

Recently, the Punjab Day celebrations were held at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. On this occasion, the ongoing efforts of the Punjab Government to promote tourism and develop the state into a vibrant “Rangla Punjab” were highlighted, Sond added.

He said that the pavilion showcased the Punjab’s rich culture, heritage, industrial growth, agricultural innovations, handicrafts, and traditional cuisine through various stalls from departments like Punjab Tourism, Markfed, Verka, and Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana.

At this event, the hotel and hospitality industries were invited to invest in Punjab, highlighting the state’s welcoming environment for investment in farm tourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism, and cultural tourism.

In a landmark move to boost tourism and destination weddings, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also inaugurated ‘Ran Baas’, a beautifully restored heritage hotel within Patiala’s iconic Qila Mubarak.

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Vigilance Bureau registers disproportionate assets case against municipal corporation Executive Engineer

Chandigarh, February 27, 2025 –The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has registered a case against Gurpreet Singh, an Executive Engineer (XEN) and posted as Municipal Town Planner (MTP) of Bathinda Municipal Corporation, on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A spokesperson of the Bureau stated that the state investigation agency reaffirms its commitment to cracking down on corruption and ensuring transparency in government services. During an in-depth investigation, it was found that the accused officer had acquired substantial wealth through corrupt practices while serving in his official capacity. The probe revealed that said Gurpreet Singh had purchased multiple properties and made fixed deposits in various banks and post offices amounting to over Rs 1.83 crore, which is 129 percent more than his legitimate income.

He further informed that based on the investigation report, the VB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Bathinda range police station and further investigation is underway. In connection with the case, search operations were conducted at the accused’s residence, and special teams have been dispatched to arrest him.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Naib Tehsildar Reader accepting Rs 8000 bribe

Chandigarh February 27, 2025 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its drive against corruption in the state, has arrested an official of Revenue Department named Alok, posted as Reader to Naib Tehsildar, Hoshiarpur for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8000.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said the aforementioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint filed by a resident of Shimlapuri, in Ludhiana.

He further informed that the complainant has informed in his complaint to the VB that the Naib Tehsildar Hoshiarpur had helped his firm to take possession of a property under SARFAESI Act at the orders of Deputy Commissioner Hoshiarpur. As per the complaint the above said Reader had demanded Rs 10000 in lieu of forwarding this possession report to the Deputy Commissioner office. The complainant further alleged that upon his request the said accused had agreed to take Rs 8000 bribe for the same.

The spokesperson further added that after preliminary verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the said accused has been arrested red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 8000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered at VB police station Jalandhar range and role of others would be verified during further investigation, he said.

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Punjab State Women Commission to Resolve Women's Issues at Lok Adalat in Patiala on February 28

Chandigarh, February 27: With the objective of hearing women's grievances and ensuring them justice, the Chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission, Mrs. Raj Lali Gill, will hold a Lok Adalat at Police Lines, Patiala, on February 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

Diring the occasion, any woman facing any complaint or issue can directly approach Chairperson Mrs. Raj Lali Gill during the Lok Adalat at Police Lines, Patiala.

This Lok Adalat is a significant initiative aimed at protecting women's rights and resolving their grievances. The Chairperson, along with police officials and officers from relevant departments, will be present on-site to ensure prompt redressal of complaints.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Home Guard volunteer for demanding bribe on behalf of Police officials

Chandigarh, February 27, 2025 –Continuing its crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), on Thursday has arrested a Punjab Home Guard (PHG) volunteer Malkit Singh, posted at Police Station City-1, Sangrur for demanding a bribe of Rs 80000 on behalf of police personnel.

Disclosing the details, a VB spokesperson stated that the accused has been arrested after an investigation of a complaint lodged at the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. According to the complainant, the accused initially demanded Rs 5 lakh bribe on behalf of police personnel to help the complainant’s husband not to register a drug-related case. However, after negotiations, the deal was finalized at Rs 80,000.

The spokesperson further added that following investigation the allegations made in the complaint were found to be true and correct against PHG Malkit Singh.

In this regard a case has been registered against the accused at the VB police station, Patiala Range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he added.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests ASI red-handed accepting Rs 15000 bribe

Chandigarh, February 27, 2025 –In its ongoing drive against corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), on Thursday arrested Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Ranjit Singh, posted at police station Anaj Mandi, Patiala, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

Disclosing the details, a VB spokesperson stated that a police case was registered against the complainant at the aforementioned Police Station and ASI Ranjit Singh, the investigating officer, had demanded Rs 15,000 in exchange for helping him in the said case.

After verifying the facts, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused ASI was caught red-handed in the presence of government witnesses while accepting the bribe of Rs 15000 from complainant. The tainted money was recovered from his possession on the spot.

The spokesperson further informed that in this regard, a case has been registered against the accused ASI under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station, Patiala Range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow, and further investigation into the case was under progress, he added.

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TRIALS OF PUNJAB TABLE TENNIS TEAMS FOR ALL INDIA SERVICES TOURNAMENT ON 4th MARCH

Chandigarh, February 27:Central Civil Services Cultural and Board are organising the All India Services Table Tennis (Men and Women) tournament from 16th to 20th March 2025 in New Delhi. Trails for Punjab teams will be held on 4th March at Polo Ground Patiala at 10.00 am.

The spokesman of the sports department further informed that in these trials security services personnel/para-security organizations/central police organizations/police/RPF/CISF/BSF/ITBP and NSG etc., autonomous parties/undertakings/public sector Banks including central ministry run banks, excluding casual/daily workers, temporary office workers, newly recruited employees who have been in regular services for less than 6 months, Government employees (regular), government officials (regular) of different departments can participate only after receiving NoC from their departments. The cost of travel, accommodation and food in this tournament will be paid by the player personally.

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HARJOT BAINS SHOOTS LETTER TO UNION EDUCATION MINISTER DEMANDING IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF PUNJABI AS MAIN SUBJECT IN CBSE CURRICULUM

•Punjab Education Minister demands inclusion of Punjabi in regional languages' list across India enabling interested students nationwide to study it

•Punjab already issues notification making Punjabi mandatory in all schools across the state, warns certificates will be null and void without it as a main subject

•After pressure, CBSE acknowledges mistake, but Punjab demands concrete action to reinstate Punjabi as a core subject, says Harjot Bains

CHANDIGARH, February 27:In a powerful and unyielding move, Punjab Government has once again jostled to wake the central government out of its deep slumber, demanding immediate action to restore Punjabi as a main subject in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum for Class 10 in Punjab, besides demanding inclusion of Punjabi language in the list of regional languages across India, ensuring that students nationwide have the option to study it.

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, in a strongly-worded letter written to Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, on Thursday, has expressed its strongest objection and deep resentment over the deliberate sidelining of Punjabi in the recently proposed CBSE exam pattern for Class 10 (2025-26), urging the central government to intervene and rectify what he termed as a direct attack on the linguistic and cultural identity of Punjab.

The letter came close on the heels of the Punjab government’s notification issued on February 26, 2025, which made Punjabi a mandatory main subject in all schools across the state, regardless of their educational board affiliation. The notification states that education certificates will be considered as null and void without Punjabi as a main subject.

In his letter, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that as per the new scheme, only five main subjects-Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, and Hindi-have been listed for regular board exams, effectively removing Punjabi from the category of main subjects and relegating it to an optional language, whose exam will be held alongside foreign languages in a single day. This is an unacceptable attempt to diminish Punjabi and cannot be tolerated, the letter reads.

“Additionally, Punjabi was omitted from the list of regional and foreign languages, while languages like German, French, Thai, and Japanese were included. It was only after my strong protest and media pressure that CBSE was forced to acknowledge this grave mistake,” he stated in his letter citing it as a deliberate move and a systematic effort to weaken Punjabi, which must be investigated.

He emphasised that Punjabi, one of India’s most widely spoken languages, is not just a medium of communication but a cornerstone of Punjab’s rich cultural heritage. Punjab has made immense sacrifices for the nation-during the freedom struggle and in safeguarding national security.

Citing that this move has hurt the sentiment of every Punjabi and such omission cannot be just termed as a clerical error, S. Harjot Singh Bains through his letter demanded a full investigation into this exclusion. “Also, I demand an immediate rollback of this discriminatory draft being violation of the State Law and a clear assurance that Punjabi will be reinstated as a main subject in CBSE schools across Punjab,” the letter further reads.

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Punjab Government Doubles Ex-Gratia Financial Assistance for Disabled Soldiers: Mohinder Bhagat

Significant Boost in Financial Support for Defence and Paramilitary Personnel

Chandigarh, February 27:In a major step towards the welfare of disabled soldiers from the Defence Services and Paramilitary Forces, the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved a substantial increase in ex-gratia financial assistance for those who become disabled while on duty during war or operations.

Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat stated that under the revised policy, ex-gratia financial assistance has been doubled, ensuring greater financial security for affected personnel. As per the new provisions, soldiers with 76% to 100% disability will now receive ₹40 lakh, up from the previous ₹20 lakh. Similarly, those with 51% to 75% disability will receive ₹20 lakh instead of ₹10 lakh, while soldiers with 25% to 50% disability will now get ₹10 lakh, compared to the earlier ₹5 lakh.

Minister Bhagat reaffirmed that the Punjab Government remains committed to the welfare of Defence Services and Paramilitary Forces personnel, ensuring their sacrifices are recognized and supported through progressive policies.