Page 6 - Bhagwant Mann

Punjab CM Mann's deplaning row: Will certainly look into it, says Scindia

Amid Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's deplaning controversy, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he will look into the matter based on requests

Gehlot writes to Mann seeking timely completion of Budha Nullah project

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot wrote a letter to his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, drawing the latter's attention to the issue of "untreated water" coming from Punjab into the canals of Rajasthan

Punjab Police forms 3-member SIT to probe Chandigarh University case

The Punjab Police on Monday said it has formed a three-member all-women special investigation team to probe the allegations that objectionable videos of several women students of Chandigarh University had been recorded by a hosteller. The SIT has been formed under the supervision of senior IPS officer Gurpreet Kaur Deo, police said. The team will thoroughly probe the case and no person involved will be spared, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. "Investigations are going on at full pace," he added. Three people, including a woman student, have been arrested. The DGP appealed to everyone to maintain peace and harmony. "Do not fall for unverified rumours. Let's work together for peace in society," he said. Protests had rocked the campus in Punjab's Mohali since Saturday night and they continued till early morning on Monday.

Considering restoration of old pension scheme, says Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said his government is considering restoring the old pension scheme for government employees. Restoration of the old pension scheme, which was discontinued in 2004, has been one of the major demands of the state government employees. "My government is considering reverting to the Old Pension System (OPS). I have asked my chief secretary to study the feasibility and modalities of its implementation. We stand committed to the welfare of our employees," Mann said on Twitter. In August last year, Aam Aadmi Party leader and incumbent Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had promised to restore the old pension system if the party was voted to power in Punjab. Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association chairman Sukhchain Singh Khaira welcomed the chief minister's announcement and said the state government employees have been struggling to get the old pension system restored.

Oppn says Punjab CM deplaned at Franfkurt for being 'drunk'; AAP denies

The Opposition on Monday targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at the Frankfurt airport as he was drunk, a charge denied by the ruling AAP as baseless. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Mann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight because of being in an inebriated state. Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP's national convention. These reports have embarrassed & shamed Punjabis all over the globe, he tweeted. However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in a negative propaganda to defame the chief minister. The allegations are baseless, bogus and false, Kang said and alleged that the opposition parties were spreading canards against the

Punjab CM Mann calls special Assembly session to conduct floor test

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday called a special session of the state Assembly on September 22 to seek a trust vote, days after the AAP accused the BJP of trying to topple its government. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state had earlier claimed that some of its MLAs were approached by the BJP with an offer of Rs 25 crore to each of them. "You must have heard how they tried to contact our MLAs and tried to offer money and other allurements in an attempt to topple the government which was elected with a huge mandate," Mann, who is in Germany, said in a video message in Punjabi. A few days ago, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had alleged that some BJP leaders had approached seven to 10 MLAs with money and ministerial positions under 'Operation Lotus'. "We are summoning a special session of Punjab Assembly on September 22 in which we will show how elected MLAs are determined to realise the dream of making the state vibrant...We will bring a trust vote in

CM Mann orders probe into Chandigarh University incident after protests

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday ordered a probe and expressed anguish over the incident at Chandigarh University following "rumours" that some objectionable videos of several female students were recorded by a woman student. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said. Sad to hear about the unfortunate incident at Chandigarh University...our daughters are our honour...a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident...severe action will be taken against whoever is found guilty, said Mann in a tweet in Punjabi. I am in touch with the administration, said Mann while appealing to people not to believe rumours. Students of the private university in Punjab's Mohali held protest over "rumours" that some objectionable videos of several women students were recorded, said police. The protest took place past midnight at the Chandigarh University campus located on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road. During preliminary investigation, it has come to light th

Opposition slams Punjab AAP govt over promises, says faltered on key issues

The opposition parties on Friday slammed the ruling AAP government in Punjab on the completion of its six months, accusing it of "selling" dreams to people while failing to fulfil promises. The Congress took on the Bhagwant Mann government over its anti-corruption crusade, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa saying the helpline launched for it has remained shut for the past few weeks. Addressing separate press conferences here, Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma and Bajwa hit out at the AAP government over non-fulfilment of promises and law and order. Both Sharma and Bajwa said the AAP government's tall promises exist only in newspaper advertisements. On the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal said the AAP government faltered on key issues. Referring to newspaper advertisements issued by the Punjab government on Friday, Bajwa said the Mann government immediately after coming to power sacked its own minister Vijay Singla for corruption on the basis of an a

Hot water: A chronology of Punjab, Haryana's Sutlej-Yamuna Link dispute

The 214-km long Satluj Yamuna Link is meant to share the Ravi and Beas rivers: an arrangement eluding solution for decades

BMW agrees to set up auto parts manufacturing plant in Punjab, says CM

Germany's luxury carmaker BMW has agreed to set up its auto part manufacturing unit in Punjab, said a state government release here on Tuesday. A decision to this effect was taken during the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at BMW headquarters in Germany on Tuesday, it said. Mann is currently on a visit to Germany to woo investors as his government promotes Punjab as the most preferred destination for doing business. During the visit, the CM showcased the state government's exemplary work to promote industry in the state after which BMW agreed to set up its auto component unit in the state, it said. An official release quoting Mann said this will be the second unit of the company in India as one such unit was already operational in Chennai. He said this will give a major boost to industrial growth of the state and open new employment avenues for the youth. The CM also invited BMW to collaborate with the state in the e-mobility sector. He was apprised that e-mobility

Bhagwant Mann approves draft Industrial and Business Development policy

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has approved the draft Industrial and Business Development policy, which aims to attract Rs 5 lakh crore investment in five years. Mann approved the draft policy on Saturday, an official statement said on Sunday. "With a vision to foster a progressive, innovative and sustainable industrial and business ecosystem in state by transforming it as the most preferred destination for doing business, the chief minister has approved the draft policy," it said. The policy will attract Rs 5 lakh crore of investment in five years, increase the share of secondary sector in GSDP to 30 per cent and tertiary sector to 62 per cent and increase the employability of the youth through skilling and increase employment opportunities in the state, the release said. Mann said that the policy will also facilitate the development of at least 15 industrial parks in the state, attract at least one anchor unit in various manufacturing and service industry sectors, provide po

Mann to visit Germany from Sep 11-18 to push Punjab's industrial growth

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will visit Germany from September 11-18 to attract investments and strategic tie-ups. This will be Mann's first foreign visit after he took oath as the chief minister in March. "In order to give a major push to the industrial growth of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be undertaking a tour of Germany from September 11-18," an official statement said here on Friday evening. During the tour, the chief minister will be meeting business delegations and prominent companies to rope in investments and strategic tie-ups in key sectors like renewable energy, car manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and advanced agriculture practices, among others, it said. Mann will hold a meeting with companies like BMW, BayWa and others during his stay in Munich, Frankfort and Berlin. "This crucial visit of the Chief Minister is likely to immensely benefit the state in getting huge investments, technical know-how and expertise from German companies," said

Arvind Kejriwal to lead 'Tiranga Yatra' in Haryana's Adampur with Punjab CM

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will lead a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Haryana's Adampur on Thursday and address a rally. Kejriwal arrived in Haryana on Wednesday for a two-day visit. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is accompanying him. The 'Tiranga Yatra' will start from Kranti Chowk in Adampur, Hisar, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said. Kejriwal will later address a rally at the Adampur Mandi, the party added. The Delhi chief minister's visit to Hisar assumes significance in the wake of the by-poll to the Adampur assembly seat which was necessitated following the resignation of Kuldeep Bishnoi from the Haryana assembly as an MLA. Bishnoi left the Congress and joined the BJP. The Adampur seat is a stronghold of Bishnoi. Besides, panchayat polls are also due in Haryana. On Wednesday, Kejriwal launched his party's 'Make India No. 1' campaign from Hisar.

Punjab CM announces implementation of UGC pay scale for university teachers

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced to implement University Grant Commission's (UGC) pay scale as per seventh pay commission to the teachers of colleges and universities

Kejriwal, Mann to discuss on how to make India No.1 in Hisar on Sep 7: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will kick-start its "Make India No.1" campaign from Hisar in Haryana on September 7 where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will put forth their "point of view" on how to make the country number one in every filed, party officials said on Saturday. People from across the state, including youths and students, will participate in the programme, senior AAP leader and former Haryana MP Ashok Tanwar told reporters here. He said said the campaign will be inaugurated by Kejriwal and Mann in Hisar on September 7 and a tricolor yatra will be taken out in Adampur on September 8. Both the chief ministers will address a rally in which people from all over the state will participate, Tanwar said. It has been 75 years since the country got independence and 55 years since Haryana was formed, still a lot needs to be done, he said. Kejriwal and Mann will put forth their point of view on how the country will become number one in

Punjab govt giving top priority to education, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said his government is giving top priority to the education sector, asserting that it is the bedrock for building a progressive society. Mann visited a local government senior secondary school and interacted with the students and teachers. "My visit is not aimed at fault finding but the real purpose is to assess the situation at grassroot level to introduce comprehensive reforms in the education sector," an official statement quoting Mann said. Education is the bedrock for building a new and progressive society due to which the state government is according top priority to it, said Mann. He said the state government is already working on introducing multi-pronged improvements in the education sector to benefit students especially from the needy and underprivileged sections of the society. He further said the state government is committed to transforming the government schools of the state into "Schools of eminence" The CM emphasised

Punjab CM Mann approves draft of EV policy, promises cash incentives

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday gave nod to a draft of new electric vehicle policy which proposes waiving of registration fee and road tax and cash incentives for buying electric vehicles. Mann in an official statement said the draft policy aims at reducing environmental pollution by checking carbon emission through promotion of electric vehicles. According to the draft policy, EVs will be pushed in the state's major cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, and Bathinda which collectively have more than 50 per cent of the state's vehicles, the statement said. The new draft policy envisages registration of 25 per cent more electric vehicles in these cities, Mann said. He said electric charging points infrastructure will be set up across the state for private and public electric vehicles. Mann also said it will be the government's focus to establish the state as a hub for manufacturing EVs, their components, and electric batteries. A centre of excellen

Terrorism rearing its head again in AAP-ruled Punjab: Cong's Raghu Sharma

Terrorism is rearing its head again in Punjab after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in the northern state in March, Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma alleged on Friday. Seeking to downplay the AAP's entry is Gujarat, where Assembly polls are due by the year-end, Sharma claimed the real fight will be between his party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit does not have any mass base in the western state. "They (AAP) now want to do politics in Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi. This is the same party which had removed Gandhiji's photos from offices after forming government in Punjab. People are also raising questions over some of the activities of the AAP," he said at a press conference here. "They formed government in Punjab by making attractive promises. But, their government is failing in handling the situation in the state. Terrorism is also rearing its head in Punjab under the AAP government. They only know how to manage ...

AAP provided jobs to 17,313 youth in five months, says Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said in merely five months of assuming charge, the Aam Aadmi Party government has handed over appointment letters of government jobs to 17,313 youth

Post matric scam: No need to hand over probe to central agency, says Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said the state's investigating agencies were fully capable of investigating the alleged irregularities in the post matric scholarship scheme and there was no need to hand the over the probe to a central agency. He also told leaders of the Valmiki community that services of 'safai sewaks' were being regularised and they soon will be taken off the contractual system. On the alleged "multi-crore" post matric scholarship scam, Mann reiterated his government's commitment to ensure stern action against the culprits. The alleged scam had surfaced during the Congress rule in 2020, following a report by the then additional chief secretary, who had flagged misappropriation of Rs 55.71 crore. The report had also questioned the role of the then social justice minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in shielding those involved in the scam. The then chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed a panel led by the state chief secretary to conduct a thorough