Page 4 - Bhagwant Mann

Punjab attracts investment of Rs 30,000 crore, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said due to ease-of-doing business policies, an investment of Rs 30,000 crore has been firmed up in the last nine months, which will create new employment opportunities

Govt working tirelessly to augment health infrastructure: Punjab Health Min

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government is working tirelessly to augment health infrastructure in the state and 521 new 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' will be thrown open to people in January next year, Punjab Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra said on Friday. In order to ensure that the people get best medical facilities, the Punjab government is working tirelessly to augment health infrastructure in the state, he said. He said in this direction, 521 new Aam Aadmi Clinics will be thrown open for people of the state on January 26, 2023. Presiding over an event in Begowal village in Ludhiana's Payal, the minister said the government is according topmost priority to healthcare and these new 521 clinics will ensure medical services to every people of the state near their doorsteps. "Massive response was given by the people to 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics which were opened on August 15 this year," he said. He alleged that healthcare was completely ignored by previous governments. The mini

Will make all-out effort to restore glory of hockey, says Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday vowed to make all-out efforts for restoring the glory of hockey in the state.

Mann meets HM Shah, asks for punishment to offenders of sacrilege crimes

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought the Centre's intervention in getting presidential assent for two important bills passed by the state stipulating harsher punishment for perpetrators of heinous crimes of sacrilege. Asserting that sacrilege of holy books is a major challenge in the state, Mann said it has been felt that the quantum of punishment for such crimes under the existing provisions of Sections 295 and 295-A in the Indian Penal Code is inadequate. Mann told Shah that the Punjab Assembly had passed 'The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018' and 'The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 201', which stipulates a punishment of up to life imprisonment for injury, damage or sacrilege to Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Bhagwat Gita, the Quran and the Bible, committed with the intention to hurt people's religious feelings. The Punjab chief minister said this amendment is in consonance with the ...

Gujarat too will have free electricity from March: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Exuding confidence in the victory of Aam Aadmi Party in the Gujarat polls, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that the northwestern state will give free electricity from March

Punjab to emerge as medical education hub, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab will emerge as a hub of medical education for the world, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Sunday after inspecting the site of an upcoming medical college in the district According to an official release, he said the medical college, coming up on an area of 20 acres at a cost of Rs 428.69 crore, will be named after Guru Nanak Dev. The design has been finalised and work on this ambitious project will start soon, the chief minister said. He said that since a large number of students from other states will also come to this college, a hostel facility along with a 300-bed hospital will also be constructed. The Punjab government has decided to construct 16 medical colleges in five years, raising the total number of such institutes in the state to 25, Mann said. The foundation stone of the Sant Attar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences at Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur had already been laid and work on two medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur will also commence soon,

Punjab farmers end protest, Min Dhaliwal says consensus reached on demands

Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who had been on a fast unto death for six days to press for the farmers' demands, broke his fast on Thursday after Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal announced that consensus had been reached on various demands following marathon talks. Dhaliwal offered juice to Dallewal at the protest site in Faridkot as he broke his fast. Dallewal told reporters that the farmers' protests, which had been going on at six regions in Punjab, would be lifted with immediate effect. Dhaliwal, while commenting on the demand for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's apology over his remarks on the farmers' protests, said there was some miscommunication as the AAP government always stood for their welfare. However, he said "we express regret" if any of Mann's words had hurt the farmers' sentiments.

Old Pension Scheme approved by Punjab Cabinet, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the state cabinet has approved the reimplementation of the old pension scheme, which was discontinued in 2004. In another decision of the cabinet, a meeting of which was held here under his chairmanship, Mann said a notification to fix sugarcane rate at Rs 380 per quintal has also been approved. Asked about the Old Pension Scheme, Mann, who was addressing a news conference after the cabinet meeting, said, "OPS has been approved by the cabinet. Details will be given. Many employees will be benefited under the old pension scheme. Notification has been issued." The old pension scheme, under which the entire pension amount was given by the government, was discontinued in the country from April 1, 2004. In the cabinet meeting held nearly a month ago, the Punjab government had decided to restore the scheme for its employees, which has been their major demand. State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had last month said employees

Punjab CM Mann orders review of all arm licenses to check gun culture

In a move aimed at checking gun culture and to maintain law and order in the state, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday ordered review of all arm licences.

Anand Marriage Act to be implemented in letter and spirit: Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the Anand Marriage Act that seeks to give statutory recognition to a marriage in the Sikh community will be implemented in true letter and spirit. Mann said this after offering prayers at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here on the occasion of 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. He said several states like Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi have already implemented the Anand Marriage Act, but Punjab has lagged behind despite a notification in this regard was issued in 2016. This Act will be now implemented in right earnest, the CM said. On this occasion, Mann prayed to the almighty for peace, progress and prosperity in the state. Extending his heartiest greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of 'Parkash Purb', Mann said Guru Nanak Dev's eternal teachings of 'Kirt Karo (work hard), Naam Japo (meditate on the lord) and Vand Chhako (share before consume)' are still relevant in the materialistic society. He appealed to the pe

Delhi LG urges Punjab CM to take urgent measures to curb stubble burning

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take "urgent and substantive" measures to control stubble burning in the state that has converted the national capital "into a gas chamber". In response, Mann accused Saxena of stopping the work of Delhi's elected government and said the Lieutenant Governor was politicising the issue. In a communication to Mann, Saxena said it was "baffling" that instead of addressing the issue at hand, "certain elements are indulging in unjustifiable blame games and excuses and trying to shirk responsibilities, even in the face of a serious crisis situation". Saxena said, on behalf of Delhi and its residents, he was urging Mann to galvanise all available resources and machinery to make the farmers become willing partners in defeating the "repetitive menace". "...request you to undertake urgent and substantive measures to control Parali burning in Punjab that has converted the National Capital once again into a gas

Punjab govt to spruce up healthcare infrastructure, says Bhagwant Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said infrastructure at government-run healthcare centres across Punjab would be developed to provide state-of-the-art medical treatment and diagnostic services. "During the Assembly elections, we had promised quality healthcare to the people and no stone is being left unturned for this," Mann said while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a new mother and child care hospital here. Mann said strenuous efforts were being made to equip government hospitals with ultra-modern facilities, according to an official release. A massive recruitment drive has also been started to fill vacant posts in the health department to ensure that people get the best healthcare facilities, he said. Mann said the government was focussing on opening new hospitals apart from upgrading the existing ones with latest facilities. Punjab will soon emerge as a hub of healthcare and medical education, said Mann, adding that 16 new medical colleges would be constructed

No deficiency in ensuring delivery of justice in Moosewala case: Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday asserted there was no deficiency on his government's part in ensuring the delivery of justice in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, a day after the slain singer's father threatened to withdraw the FIR. Mann was responding to a question on a statement by Moosewala's father, who on Sunday said he would withdraw the FIR in his son's murder case if the slain singer was linked with gangsters. "From our side, there is no such deficiency that we are making any delay in delivery of justice. Every day, someone or the other is being arrested. From wherever we get any clue, we make arrests (in the case)," the chief minister said in Pathankot. Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh has also threatened to leave the country and given an ultimatum to the state machinery till November 25 to hear him out. Mann, who was in Pathankot on Monday to take stock of paddy procurement arrangements, dubbed the Moosewala murder incident as a very serious matter. He said the

Punjab CM decides to personally review efforts to check stubble burning

Amid farm fire incidents continuing in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said he has decided to personally undertake review of the efforts in all the districts to check paddy straw burning. He also said that the state government had chalked out a plan to combat the stubble burning menace and directed the officers concerned to implement it in a result oriented manner. As part of the plan, the state government has recently distributed 30,000 machines for in-situ management of paddy straw thereby taking the total number of such machines to 1.20 lakh, said Mann in an official release here. He also urged people to play a pivotal role in checking environmental pollution in the state. "Now the time has come when every citizen should support the state government in making the state clean, green and pollution free, he said, adding that the state government would leave no stone unturned for this noble cause. The chief minister said the campaign has been initiated across the sta

Gujarat: Kejriwal, Mann greeted with black flags, chants of Modi in Navsari

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann were on Saturday shown black flags by BJP supporters, who also chanted 'Modi, Modi' slogans when the AAP leaders were on their way to address a public rally at Chikhli in Gujarat's Navsari district. Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters standing on the roadside between Khudvel and Golvad villages in Chikhli taluka waved black flags as the motorcade of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders passed by. They also shouted 'Modi, Modi' as the vehicles made their way to the National Cricket Ground in Chikhli town, where the two chief ministers were to address the rally. Referring to the incident while addressing the rally later, Kejriwal said he considers those showing black flags to him as his brothers, and said he was confident that one day he would win over their hearts and make them join his party. Kejriwal said that people can vote for whichever party they like, but the AAP will make sure that their childr

Punjab CM wants Shah to look into farmers' problems along border fence

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday to sympathetically look into the problems being faced by farmers along the India-Pakistan border fence in the state. Addressing a two-day "Chintan Shivir" of home ministers here, Mann urged Shah to reduce the distance between the border fence and the actual border to facilitate the farmers cultivating their land across the fence, according to an official release. The chief minister said the distance must be reduced to 150-200 metres, instead of the existing around one kilometre, to ensure that the farmers of the border region benefit from it. He said this will ensure optimum utilisation of the land on one hand and strengthen the security of the country on the other. Flagging another issue, Mann urged the Centre to set up a regional centre of the National Security Guards (NSG) at Pathankot. He said the setting up of the NSG centre at Pathankot will help effectively combat any terror activity in the

Previous govts plundered Punjab of its resources, trying to undo damage: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday claimed that previous government "mercilessly plundered" the state's resources and his regime is trying to undo the damage. "The Aam Aadmi Party government will overhaul the entire system in the state to ensure its progress and prosperity of people," said Mann addressing a gathering at a state-level function to mark Vishwakarma Day here. Earlier, governments had "mercilessly plundered" the wealth of the state, causing it an irreparable damage, he said. Now, with the blessings of Lord Vishwakarma, he is trying to repair the damage done to the state by ensuring its complete revamp, claimed Mann. Exhorting workers and craftsmen to make concerted efforts for strengthening the infrastructure of the state and the nation, the CM said it will be a real and befitting tribute to Lord Vishwakarma. The CM said his government strives to make the youth of Punjab job providers instead of job seekers, stressing that Punjabis are blessed with qualities

Punjab, Haryana lit with Diwali spirit; Mann visits Gurudwara with wife

Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated across Punjab and Haryana on Monday with great fervour and enthusiasm. Devotees queued up at temples and gurudwaras across Punjab and Haryana including Chandigarh to worship their gurus and deities. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with his wife Gurpreet Kaur offered prayers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. He also bought some diyas from a roadside vendor. Cities across the two states were lit with candles, diyas (earthen lamps), and electric lights, as people did rounds of each others' houses and exchanged sweets and gifts. Everywhere, people thronged the market places for last-minute shopping as shopkeepers selling Diwali items and sweets made a brisk business. To ward off any bad incident, security was tightened across the two states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, especially in and around vital locations, markets, and places of worship, officials said. In Amritsar, the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh shrine, gleamed

Upcoming G-20 summit will promote Punjab for business, says CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the G-20 summit, scheduled to be held in the holy city of Amritsar in March 2023, will promote the state as a preferred destination

Punjab CM, Union minister inaugurate largest Bio energy project in Sangrur

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann along with Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday inaugurated the country's largest bio energy plant constructed at a cost of Rs 230 crore here. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said this step will go a long way in wiping out the menace of paddy straw burning from the state. Germany-based Verbio Group's Indian subsidiary has set up the plant. This is the largest biofuel (biomethane/bio-CNG) production unit in India with 33 TPD (tonnes per day) capacity of compressed biogas, said Mann. The annual straw consumption in this unit will be 1.30 lakh tonnes, he said, adding that it will help in solving the problem of paddy straw burning. Set up over 20 acres of land, this unit will contribute to an annual reduction of 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of pollutants and 20,000 MT of fly ash currently produced due to paddy straw burning, said an official release quoting Mann. This unit will also give employment to 1,000 youth, he said,