Munich (Germany): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday late evening batted for collaboration with Invest in Bavaria team in agri-food processing, textiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals and chemical sector.

The Chief Minister called on the Invest in Bavaria team at their office in Munich where he was apprised that the State of Bavaria in Germany is known for its automotive industry, biotechnology, chemicals, electronics and electrical engineering, energy technology, financial services and IT. He was informed that around 350 companies from the region have their business ventures in India including Siemens, BMW, Audi, MAN, Adidas, Allianz AG, Munich Re, Airbus, Infineon, Wacker Chemie, Osram, Linde and others. Bhagwant Mann was also told that Invest in Bavaria acts as the Business Promotion Agency of the State of Bavaria and supports companies from Germany and abroad in finding the ideal location in Bavaria for business.

Meanwhile, taking part in deliberations, the Chief Minister showcased Punjab’s strengths in agri-food processing, textiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. He said that there is a huge scope in these sectors along with other various potential areas of collaboration between Invest Punjab and Invest in Bavaria. Bhagwant Mann also showcased Invest Punjab’s one-stop-office model to facilitate investors in Punjab from project ideation and planning to execution and aftercare.

Highlighting the industry-friendly policies of the state government, the Chief Minister said that they are acting as a catalyst to put the state on orbit of high trajectory of industrial growth. He also extended an invitation to Head of Department International Economic Relations, Invest in Bavaria, Dr. Markus Wittmann to attend the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled for February 23-24, 2023 to further strengthen this relationship and explore opportunities for collaboration. Inviting the companies from the State of Bavaria to invest in Punjab, he assured full support and cooperation from the State Government in identifying opportunities for trade, investment and partnerships in the State of Punjab.

Meanwhile, Invest in Bavaria team appreciated Punjab’s single-window system for regulatory and fiscal services and ease of doing business rankings during a mutual exchange of best practices. Invest Punjab and Invest in Bavaria also agreed to cooperate and exchange bi-lateral trade and investment opportunities, promote cooperation in the areas of commercial, industrial and technical exchanges between the companies/industries from the respective regions and explore opportunities for collaboration in research, skill development, training and infrastructure development.

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Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its campaign against corruption on Tuesday arrested six Passers/Mediators accused in the GST scam. These private persons were bribing the state taxation officials who in turn were giving them escape routes to evade taxes and further evading GST during checking of vehicles carrying unfurnished goods (Iron scrap) and furnished goods by imposing less penalty.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau said in this regard a case FIR No 8, dated 21/08/2020 had already been registered u/s 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, 201 IPC and 7, 7(a), 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act at police station Vigilance Bureau, Flying Squad-1 Punjab at Mohali against the GST/ Excise and Taxation officials besides the passers/mediators who in connivance with each other caused a huge loss to the State exchequer.

He further added that during further investigation of this case the Economic Offences Wing of the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab today arrested six passers/mediators namely Balwinder Singh @ Babu Ram, Sachin Kumar Luthra, Pawan Kumar @ Kala, Ajay Kumar, Randhir Singh and Avtar Singh. In this case some officers of the Taxation Department and passers had already been arrested.

He informed that these accused were actively involved in this nexus of passing vehicles belonging to different States carrying iron scrap/furnished goods without paying requisite amount of GST in connivance with GST officials of the Taxation Department.

Giving details of the modus operandi of this scam he informed that in lieu of the help by state taxation officers, the passers/mediators gave hefty bribes on monthly basis to the officers.

The spokesperson further added that the role of other group of passers and concerned GST officials would be thoroughly probed during the investigation of the case. The remand of all these arrested passers would be taken from the competent court to further investigate the matter.

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Chandigarh: The Group of Ministers (GoM), closely gauging the ongoing relief work to control the Lumpy Skin disease (LSD) in the state, on Tuesday urged the union government to include this disease in the National Animal Disease Control Programme.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asked Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar to seek an early appointment from Union Animal Husbandry Minister Parshotam Rupala to raise the issue of including LSD in the National Animal Disease Control Programme, while adding that in view of the prevalence of LSD in most of the northern states and the possibility of recurrence of this disease year after year, vaccination against this disease should be made free on the lines of diseases like Foot & Mouth and Brucellosis etc.

During the review meeting of LSD prevention relief works here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar were apprised that out of total 10.2 lakh doses of Goat Pox vaccine procured at a cost of over Rs.1.5 crore, around 9.10 lakh doses were administered to cattle so far, while 1.10 lakh doses are available with the department. Apart from this, Rs.1.32 crore has been disbursed for procuring other medicines and equipment for the prevention of the disease.

Replying to the query of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the officials said that cattle of more than 1.45 lakh livestock farmers have been treated free of cost so far besides vaccinating every cattle in all the Gaushalas of the state.

Meanwhile, the GoM led by the Finance Minister directed to ensure the vaccination of cattle kept in large numbers by the various religious institutions, commercial dairy farmers, Gujjar communities and others people in the second phase. The Ministers also asked the Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry to coordinate with the MD Milkfed for ensuring vaccination of animals of dairy farmers registered with the institution.

On the input of experts from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana that the effect of Goat Pox vaccine lasts nearly one year, the Cabinet Ministers instructed that booster-dose and next vaccination campaign shall be conducted during the month of February next year to prevent the recurrence of LSD.

Taking serious note of the expiry of 19,150 doses of Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) vaccine in district Pathankot, which were lying unused intentionally, the Ministers directed the Animal Husbandry department to issue show cause notices to the erring employees and officials. They said that at the time when the livestock needed special care due to threat of deadly disease like LSD, the negligence and irresponsibility shown by the employees shall not be tolerated at any cost. The Cabinet Ministers asked the Principal Secretary that accountability must be fixed in such cases.

The Ministers directed to complete the target of vaccination against Foot & Mouth Disease and Hemorrhagic septicemia by 30 September and 15 October, respectively. During the meeting, it was also discussed that the ban on cattle fairs and inter-state movement of cattle will be continued till further orders.

Vikas Pratap, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department informed that 1,08,605 animals have recovered from LSD in the state.

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Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) party on Tuesday launched a frontal attack on the BJP, accusing it of trying to topple its government in PUnjab through its “tried and tested” Operation Lotus.

Addressing a press conference, at the party headquarters here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that under ‘Operation Lotus’ many leaders and agents of BJP from Delhi and Punjab have approached at least 10 AAP MLAs on phone, in the past 7 days and offered Rs 25 crore to each to quit AAP and join the BJP.

He said that they are offering to arrange meetings of AAP MLAs with ‘Babu ji’ (a top BJP leader) and also promised them Cabinet Ministerial ranks after BJP forms the government in the state.

Lambasting the Modi government, Cheema said that BJP is working as a ‘serial killer in Punjab and anti-national powers have joined forces to overthrow the AAP government in Punjab as they are unable to digest the dynamic functioning of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government in the state.

“After using central investigation agencies against AAP leaders in Delhi and offering money to MLAs in Delhi, now, the BJP is attempting to ‘buy’ MLAs in Punjab,” Cheema said.

Replying to a media query, the cabinet minister said that the Punjab government will launch an investigation and legal action will be initiated into the matter.

Recently, BJP attempted to topple the AAP government in Delhi, which was elected by the people of Delhi with a huge majority.

He said that BJP is only afraid of Kejriwal, so they aim to stop Kejriwal by any means. BJP is unnerved by the growing popularity of Kejriwal across the country.

Cheema said that BJP leaders and their agents are offering to MLAs that if one MLA comes alone, he will get 25 crores and if they bring other MLAs along with them, they will get 50 to 70 crores.

Launching a fierce attack for denying financial aid to Punjab, the finance minister said that the Modi government doesn’t even give a single rupee to assist Punjab financially but they have Rs 1375 crores ‘black money to buy the MLAs of Punjab.

Raising serious questions, Cheema said, “From where this 1375 crore came and where is the money hidden? Will CBI and ED show courage to investigate this big scam? BJP has kept over 2200 crore including 1375 crores to buy Punjab MLAs and 800 crores for Delhi MLAs,” Cheema added.

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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said all states should regularise their employees just as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has regularised 8,736 school teachers. He said the Delhi government had also brought a bill in the Assembly to regularise guest teachers in the national capital but the Centre did not approve it.

“At a time when government jobs are being reduced and contractual employees are being appointed, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has regularised the services of 8,736 teachers. This will prove to be an example for others as well and they should regularise jobs of contractual employees in their states.”

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Mandi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday exhorted the youth of Himachal Pradesh to act as a catalyst of change by ousting the traditional political parties from the state.

“Don’t expect that power falls into your lap but work hard to ensure that a new era of unprecedented development is ushered in your state”, said the Chief Minister while promising six guarantees including jobs for all youth, unemployment allowance, Advisory Board for traders, end Inspector rule, corruption free administration and others to residents of hilly state.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, said that by playing musical chairs, the traditional parties have mercilessly plundered the wealth of the state. He said that these political parties have connived with each other to shield their misdeeds. Bhagwant Mann said that the real sufferers have been the people and state who have lagged behind in progress and prosperity.

The Chief Minister said that now the time has come when the youth must come forward and work hard to rout these parties from the hill state. He said that people from Delhi and Punjab had already brought revolution in their respective states and now the time has come that it should be replicated in the state too. Bhagwant Mann said that the time has come when the youth must play a decisive role in the process of national building.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that though the state and its people have suffered due to poor policies of these leaders but the families of the leaders have prospered. He said that while the people are starving for food, the politicians and their families are living an opulent lifestyle. Bhagwant Mann said that this has to be reversed for which the youth must play a vanguard role.

The Chief Minister said that AAP is continuously working for reform in the education and health sector. He said that there is a stark difference between the education which Gandhi family scion and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi obtained from an elite school and the education which a common child attains from the government school. Bhagwant Mann said that they are working on a model to ensure that government schools turn into ‘schools of eminence’ to provide quality education to youth, so that the common man’s child can compete with his convent educated peers.

The Chief Minister further said that AAP is a product of revolution and the vision of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He said that ‘broom’ , the symbol of AAP symbolises cleanliness adding that they are here to clean the dirt in the political system. Bhagwant Mann further said that people must support this movement for the well being of the country and its people.

The Chief Minister asserted that winds of change brought transformation in Punjab as people voted for the AAP overwhelmingly and 92 MLAs won in the state. He said that stalwarts of traditional parties like former Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal, Captain Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi, along with former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia and Navjot Singh Sidhu lost from their strongholds very badly. Bhagwant Mann predicted that the same scenario will emerge in Himachal after the polls and AAP will form government in state.

The Chief Minister further said that his government has introduced One MLA, One Pension scheme in Punjab thereby ending the open loot of public wealth in form of multiple pensions to the MLAs. He bemoaned that in the last 75 years these elected representatives had drawn huge salaries and pensions from the state exchequer. Bhagwant Mann said that the entire burden of this facility to these leaders was on the taxpayers as their money was wasted on ensuring multiple pensions to these leaders instead of being used for the public welfare.

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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced that his government will implement the pay scales of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in colleges and universities in the state from October.

He said appointment of guest faculty in government colleges has also been approved. Making the announcement on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, the Chief Minister said, “The 7th Pay Commission of the University Grants Commission (UGC) will be implemented in all colleges and universities of Punjab from October 1, 2022.”

Implementation of the 7th Pay Commission of UGC was a major demand of the teachers of colleges and universities of Punjab. Mann further informed that to meet the shortage of teachers, approval has been given to appoint guest faculty teachers in all government colleges of the state.

A notification in this regard will be issued soon, he said in a video message. The AAP leader said the salaries of guest teachers, who have been teaching in colleges for the last 18-20 years, have also been increased.

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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday had detailed parleys with experts of Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) during which he batted for introduction of Direct Sowing Rice (DSR) Basmati, new maize and wheat genetics, cropping systems and others for transforming destiny of farmers by giving major push to crop diversification in the state.

“The DSR Basmati, new maize and wheat genetics, cropping systems and others are being successfully implemented in farms of Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) and can prove to be game changer for farmers of state” said the Chief Minister while chairing a meeting with the representatives of BISA led by Director General, CIMMYT & BISA, Mexico Dr. Bram Govaerts.

The Chief Minister, while expressing concern over depleting water table, said that the need of hour is to switch over to less water guzzling crops for which BISA Model of crop diversification needs to be followed cross the state. He asserted that it will help in saving precious water of state on one hand and enhancing the income of farmers on the other. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab today needs a complete transformation of agriculture through diversification adding that BISA can play a major role in it.

The Chief Minister also said that approach needs to adopted for saving water table and providing appropriate market for better and remunerative prices to farmers. He emphasised that it will help in transforming the destiny of the farmers who are on crossroads due to ever escalating input costs and diminishing returns. Bhagwant Mann underscored need for promoting water saving technologies for Basmati rice which is helping farmers to enhance and sustain their income.

The Chief Minister also laid thrust on diversification through crops like maize, pulses, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, bamboo, poplar, fruit crops like guava, kinoo and others. He lauded that BISA farm at Ludhiana, Punjab has emerged as a model farm that integrates the latest innovation in science and technology for farmer application and scaling. Proposing a strong collaboration of state government with BISA, Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is ready to replicate this model across the state.

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Chandigarh: A long overdue decision was taken today to genuinely empower women instead of paying lip service. Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal issued instructions that will put an end to the practice of husbands/sons/relatives participating in meetings of Panchayati Raj Institutions on behalf of elected women. Some male members even sign documents on their behalf.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the Divisional Deputy Director Panchayats, Additional Deputy Commissioners Development, District Development and Panchayat Officers, Deputy Chief Executive Officers, Zilla Parishad, Block Development and Panchayat Officers have been issued directions in this regard to strictly implement the government orders in true sense otherwise legal action will be taken against violators.

The Rural Development Minister clearly stated that instructions have been issued several times in the past not to allow any woman elected representative’s husband/son or any other family member to participate on their behalf in the meetings of Panchayati Raj institutions, but despite of this it has been observed that whenever there is a meeting of the elected Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Committees and Gram Panchayats, instead of the elected women office bearers, their husbands or other family members attend the meetings. But it is mandatory for the elected representatives to participate in the meeting themselves, not anyone else on their behalf.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the concerned officers have now been issued directions to strictly stop this wrong practice with immediate effect. It should also be ensured that whenever a meeting is held by the Panchayats or by the department, the elected female office bearers actively participate in the meeting and no other family member is allowed to participate in the meeting.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Minister said that if any such thing happens in the future where a woman office holder is replaced by her husband/son or any other family member in the meeting, then strict action will be taken against the concerned.

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Chandigarh: In order to stop illegal & haphazard development in the urban areas, Punjab Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led state government is all set to bring a comprehensive Real Estate policy, disclosed Aman Arora, Minister for Housing and Urban Development.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting with senior officials of Revenue & Rehabilitation Department and Real Estate Developers at Punjab Bhawan here, on Monday. He asked the Real Estate Developers to submit their representation to Additional Chief Secretary-cum-FCR Anurag Agarwal for their queries and problems.

The Cabinet Minister assured the Real Estate Developers that their all legitimate demands will be considered sympathetically and he will discuss it with the Chief Minister, who is personally supervising the every development in this regard. He asked the developers to make sure that the interests of property buyers should be protected.

Interacting with media persons after the meeting, Aman Arora said that the previous governments have created a mess in the name of urban development, which resulted in mushrooming of around 14000 illegal colonies in the state. Mann Government is fully aware of all the problems being faced by the common man and it would bring a comprehensive policy to clean this messy system so as to ensure planned development in the state, besides keeping a check on loot of people in this business.

On a question of making NOC compulsory for property registration, the cabinet minister said that this issue would also be resolved soon as Punjab Government’s three departments Housing & Urban Development, Revenue and Local Government are working in tandem to sort it out at the earliest.

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