Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday slammed the traditional political leaders especially Sukhbir Badal and Sunil Jakhar for posing while enjoying weddings, receptions and feasts whereas food growers of the state are undergoing fast to get their demands met.

The Chief Minister said that this clearly reflects the insensitivity and insincerity of this 'elite' political class that has ruled the state for decades. He said that these political leaders have always hobnobbed with each other to secure their interests while ignoring the matters of the state and its people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders spit venom against each other from their respective stages but embrace each other in such private functions which expose their dubious face.

The Chief Minister quipped that these leaders will justify their move by saying that this is their social obligation but they forget that due to their venomous speeches the social fabric of the state is disturbed adding that these leaders divide the people for their vested political interests but shamefully are hand in glove with each other. He said that these political leaders befool the people as in villages of state people fight with each other on the name of political parties but these leaders attend the marriages and functions of each other and embrace them which is surprising. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such people should be taught a lesson and people should always elect the government of the common man.

The newly appointed youth of the state who were given a job letter by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday profusely thanked the state government for illuminating their lives by giving them jobs purely on merit.

Sharing his views Sukhpreet Singh thanked the Chief Minister by asserting that he and his wife Harpreet kaur had returned from abroad to join as Assistant Professor. He said that now there is no need to go abroad but work hard as the state government led by the Chief Minister is offering a number of opportunities to them.

Continuing mission rozgar, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday handed over appointment letters for government jobs to 497 youth thereby setting a new milestone by illuminating the lives of 50,892 families in the last around three years after assuming the charge of office.

On Wednesday, the Chief Minister handed over letters to youth in the Water supply and Sanitation department, School Education department, Higher Education and Languages, Rural Development and Science, Technology and Environment.

Addressing the gathering here at the Municipal Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that it is a momentous occasion when these youth are becoming the part of the family of Punjab government. He expressed hope that these youth will become an active partner in the socio-economic development of the state by joining these respective departments. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the first time in the history of the state, any government has given a record number of 50,892 jobs to the youth in 35 months of coming into power.

In an Intelligence-based operation, Punjab Police apprehended Harmandeep Singh from Mahal village in Amritsar district and recovered 10 kg heroin, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.

The arrested man was constantly in touch with Pakistan-based smuggler Chacha Bawa, who sent heroin via drones in the Attari sector for further distribution, he said.

A First Information Report (FIR) under the NDPS Act has been registered and further investigation is underway to identify other associates.

Earlier, in one of the biggest heroin seizures of this year, Amritsar Rural Police last week busted a cross-border smuggling racket with the arrest of a drug smuggler and recovered 30 kg heroin from his possession.

The arrested accused was identified as Gursimranjit Singh, alias Simran, a resident of Baserke Gillan in Gharindha in Amritsar.

Dr. Balbir Singh, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, conducted a surprise check of Community Health Center Chanarthal Kalan and Civil Hospital Fatehgarh Sahib at night. During this checking, he checked the attendance of the staff on duty in the emergency; all the staff were found present on duty. He interacted with the patients who reached the hospital for treatment and got detailed information about the facilities being provided by the Punjab government in government health centers and hospitals.The health minister told the emergency medical officers posted on night duty that there should be no shortage of medicines in emergency services. He said that all the equipment used in the emergency should be in working condition, medicines, blood management, proper manpower, and power backup, etc., should be in order so that the patients do not face any problem during the night. Dr. Balbir Singh disclosed that the health department officials have been instructed to provide maximum benefit to the needy patients regarding the free health services being provided by the Punjab government. He instructed the staff to take full care of the patients and ensure that they perform their duties with dedication. During the checking, he spoke to the patients admitted in the emergency ward and reviewed the health services being provided to them and expressed satisfaction. He also spoke to the patients admitted to the district hospital because of dog bites and expressed satisfaction by getting information about the anti-rabies vaccine to be administered to those patients. Giving information regarding the checking, Civil Surgeon Dr. Davinderjit Kaur said that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that the facilities being provided to the people through the health department reach every needy person, and strict compliance with the instructions given by the government from time to time would be ensured.

Dr. Balbir Singh, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, conducted a surprise check of Community Health Center Chanarthal Kalan and Civil Hospital Fatehgarh Sahib at night. During this checking, he checked the attendance of the staff on duty in the emergency; all the staff were found present on duty. He interacted with the patients who reached the hospital for treatment and got detailed information about the facilities being provided by the Punjab government in government health centers and hospitals.The health minister told the emergency medical officers posted on night duty that there should be no shortage of medicines in emergency services. He said that all the equipment used in the emergency should be in working condition, medicines, blood management, proper manpower, and power backup, etc., should be in order so that the patients do not face any problem during the night. Dr. Balbir Singh disclosed that the health department officials have been instructed to provide maximum benefit to the needy patients regarding the free health services being provided by the Punjab government. He instructed the staff to take full care of the patients and ensure that they perform their duties with dedication. During the checking, he spoke to the patients admitted in the emergency ward and reviewed the health services being provided to them and expressed satisfaction. He also spoke to the patients admitted to the district hospital because of dog bites and expressed satisfaction by getting information about the anti-rabies vaccine to be administered to those patients. Giving information regarding the checking, Civil Surgeon Dr. Davinderjit Kaur said that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that the facilities being provided to the people through the health department reach every needy person, and strict compliance with the instructions given by the government from time to time would be ensured.

Basant Kirtan Darbar was organised by Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib. Teaching and non-teaching staff and students of various departments attended the Kirtan Durbar at the Gurdwara Sahib of the campus. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prit Pal Singh said that the new even semester in the university has been started with Basant Kirtan Darbar. He said that the verses of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are sung according to Basant raga. Addressing on this occasion, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Sukhwinder Singh Billing said that music has great importance in Gurmat. The tradition of Kirtan Durbar has been going on since the time of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Starting from Maghi to Hole Mahalla wherever Basant Kirtan Darbars are held, one Shabad Basant Raga is compulsorily sung in each Kirtan Chounki and the Shabad Chounki is completed with Basant Ki Vaar. He said that singing of two forms of pure and mixed basant raga is acceptable in Gurmat. The staff and students of the music department sang hymns in Basant Raag. Head of the Music Department, S. Harpreet Singh sang shabad in Raag Basant Hindol, accompanied by Assistant Professor Shivani. Dr. Swarleen Kaur, Ravinder Kaur and Shabnam sang hymns in Raag Basant. On this occasion, Dean Student Welfare Dr. Sikander Singh, heads/in-charges of various departments, teaching and non-teaching staff and a large number of students participated.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the Excise and Taxation Department has conducted targeted GST registration drives to broaden the tax base, resulting in the addition of 46,338 taxpayers in 2023-24 and approximately 33,000 new taxpayers up to December 2024.

He said a statewide campaign has also been launched to educate taxpayers on filing procedures, ITC claims, and compliance benefits.

The Finance Minister, in a press statement, said that the state GST Department initiated another GSTR registration drive in January, visiting approximately 48,000 new dealers and registering around 10,500 dealers across the state.

He said various community engagement methods were employed during the registration drive, including awareness camps, meetings with market and industry associations, and interactions with professionals like chartered accountants (CAs), advocates, and accountants.