News Analysis India

Tag: Bhagwant Mann

  • Bhagwant Mann sacks his Corrupt minister

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Giving a dramatic push to probity in public life, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday sacked his health minister Dr Vijay Singla and got him arrested for seeking cut money for awarding government contracts and clearing payments.

    Singla was later produced before a local court, which remanded him in three-day police custody. For his part, Singla said, “It is conspiracy to defame the AAP and Bhagwant Mann government.” Both Singla and his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Pardeep Kumar were booked by the police under the Prevention of Corruption Act based on a complaint from Rajinder Singh, Superintending Engineer in the Punjab Health Systems Corporation.

    The FIR said Singla’s OSD Kumar had demanded that the officer fetch 2% commission for a construction contract worth Rs 41 crore the minister had already cleared and for a separate payment of Rs 17 crore made to contractors in March. Since the total amount involved was Rs 58 crore, 2% works out to Rs 1.16 crore.

    When Rajinder Singh brought the harassment to Mann’s notice, he was asked to gather proof. The officer then taped a meeting he had with Singla and Kumar, where they reiterated their demand for bribe and said the cut money should be paid to his nephew. The officer handed over the explosive tape to the Chief Minister’s Office.

    Mann is learnt to have then confronted the minister with the recording and asked if the voice on the tape was his. Singla reportedly replied in the affirmative and was sacked. He is a first-time MLA and minister, as are most ministers in the Punjab ministry.

    Mann put out a video message making the announcement. “We found substantial proof of his corruption. I do not care if the opposition wants to use this to hit out at us,” he nonchalently claimed. Mann also sought to take the high moral ground saying this is the second time in the country’s history that a minister has been sacked by his own party for graft. The first one, he added, was in 2015 when AAP founder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chucked his own food supplies minister Asim Ahmed Khan on charges of corruption and handed him over to the CBI for questioning.

    Kejriwal, of course, was suitably impressed. “Your action has brought tears to my eyes,’’ he told Mann. But the Opposition mocked Kejriwal for claiming earlier that corruption had been completely eradicated in Punjab within just 10 days of the Mann government in the saddle.

    Whistleblower’s dramatic complaint

    About a month ago, Rajinder Singh, Superintending Engineer in Punjab Health Systems Corporation, was called by Pardeep Kumar, OSD to Singla (pic), to room number 203 of Punjab Bhavan

    Singla was in a hurry to leave, but told the officer to fully trust Kumar. “Whatever Kumar says is what I intend to say,” he assured and left

    Kumar mentioned allotments of construction works worth L41 crore and a separate Rs 17 crore already paid to contractors in March

    2% of the total Rs 58 crore or Rs 1.16 crore should be paid as bribe, they said

    The officer refused and requested that he be sent back to his parent department. He is due to retire on November 30

  • Akal Takht Jathedar says every Sikh should try to keep licensed weapon, CM Mann objects

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Monday triggered a controversy by saying that every Sikh should try to keep a licensed weapon in view of the uncertain times. While Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma took strong exception to the statement of Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal leaders backed Singh. Interestingly, there are more than 3.50 lakh licensed weapons in Punjab.

    While congratulating the people on Gureayi Diwas of the master of Miri (temporal power) and Piri (spiritual authority), the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib via a video message, Giani Harpreet Singh said, “It is necessary for all Sikhs to adhere to Bani and Bani, all to be armed and to legally possess the modern weapons of today’s age.”

    Singh asked people to steer clear of drugs which have destroyed many families and recite gurbani as he appealed to the Sikh community to follow the path laid down by the Guru.

    During his address, he referred to the fact that Guru Hargobind Sahib took on the Mughal might which was considered impossible at that time and won four battles against them.

    Shiromani Akali Dal leaders backed Singh’s statement, with former Akali Dal MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha saying that Sikhs should strengthen themselves through the concept of miri-piri. SAD spokesman Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said that there is nothing wrong in the statement of Singh because of the law and order situation in the state.

    Former Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) President Jagir Kaur said that on this very day, Guru Hargobind Singh sat on the throne and introduced the concept of miri piri and that whatever Singh said was in that context. Sikhs are anyway supposed to carry a kirpan and shastra (weapons) are integral to Sikh teachings, she said, adding that besides, licensed weapons are only issued by the government.

    Reacting to the statement of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged him to spread message of peace, harmony and brotherhood in society rather than asking Sikhs to keep licensed modern weapons. He took strong exception to the statement of Singh that every Sikh should possess modern weapons. He said that we are living in a civilised society where the country is governed through the rule of law. Mann said that weapons don’t have any place in a congenial and harmonious society.

    Mann said that Singh should instead focus on spreading message of Gurbani which envisages ‘sarbat da bhlaa’ (welfare of one and all). He said that the Jathedar should focus on disseminating this divine message of well being of all in each and every household.

    Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma said the Jathedar should talk about communal harmony and peace rather than talking about keeping weapons. He said that the statement by Singh gives a wrong message to the masses.

    Rashtriya Hindu Parishad president Vijay Bhardwaj said that Singh was the head of the highest body representing the Sikh community and he can make statements for the Sikh community. But Bhardwaj also appealed to the Hindu community tokeep licensed weapons in their homes.

  • CM Bhagwant Mann leads more than 15,000 cyclists to generate awareness against drugs 

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Sunday, led more than 15,000 cyclists, in a massive drug awareness bicycle rally from the grounds of  GGS School in Sangrur. 

    Addressing the gathering after flagging off the rally, Chief Minister Mann said that Sangrur is the land of revolutionaries and today the people of Sangrur have once again gathered for a noble cause. He said that the aim of this rally is to create a massive awareness against drug menace and wean away youth, who fell prey to drugs unknowingly, from the menace.

    Quoting that ‘an idle brain is a devil’s workshop’ Mann said that with more employment opportunities there will be no space for drugs in the society.

    “Our social bonding is so strong that any seed could germinate on the land of Punjab but the seed of hatred will not germinate here at any cost. And if our health and mind will be fit then we will together put the state on the high growth trajectory,” he said.

    The Chief Minister said that in the coming days more such awareness initiatives will be embarked on the larger level to promote physical and mental health besides weaning away youth from menace drugs by creating awareness. Bhagwant Mann said that his government is working on multiple plans to eradicate drugs from society adding that more rehabilitation centres and clinics will be opened for the better treatment of drug-affected patients.

    He further said that thrust will also be laid on providing employment opportunities to the youth which would help in keeping them away from the drug menace. Expressing concern over depleting water table, he said that both water and air, the precious natural resources of the state have been polluted. Mann said that his government will start an awareness drive to motivate the farmers for crop diversification.

    He also said that Union Government has now agreed to implement Price Support Scheme for procurement of moong crop from Punjab government for Rabi season 2021-22.

    Before the commencement of the rally, Punjabi folk singer Harjit Harman enthralled the audience.

  • Punjab government will soon end VIP culture in jail: CM Mann 

    The chief minister said the state government has so far confiscated 710 mobile phones from jails in a special drive.

  • Punjab: Bust drug mafia or face action, Mann tells cops

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  In a bid to combat drug menace in the border state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday directed top police officers to act in tandem with the Special Task Force on Drugs and to launch joint operations to nab the “big sharks” running the “drug mafia”. 

    Addressing a high-level meeting of police commissioners and senior superintendents of police here, Mann categorically said that if any incident of drug supply comes to his notice from any part of the state, the SSP and CP concerned would be held solely accountable. He also asked the officers to immediately swing into action in case someone lodges any complaint about drug trafficking. 

    Emphasising the need for tightening the noose around drug smugglers across the state, Mann said strict action would be taken against the officials in case of accused getting default bail, particularly in cases of commercial recovery.

    Mann directed DGP VK Bhawra to issue detailed guidelines to all SSPs to not disclose the price of drugs seized during recovery in the international market as this practice attracts people who want to make quick buck. He, however, said rest of the information regarding quantity seized, location of recovery and the details of accused could be made public.

    The CM also said more de-addiction clinics will be set up in the stat. Mann also asked the DGP to speed up the process of confiscation of properties belonging to those involved with drug mafia. As preventive measures, the CM stressed that special focus should be laid on revamping sports infrastructure in villages and wards.

  • Sidhu meets Mann, says CM receptive, without arrogance

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and praised him for not having arrogance and receptive to his viewpoints as he discussed a host of issues.

    Sidhu’s meeting came days after he called Mann as a “rubber doll”, alluding to the Opposition charge that the state government is being run by the AAP leadership from Delhi. Sidhu last month praised Mann as a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Before the meeting, Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said Mann would meet Sidhu, who was not an MLA, MP or a minister and had even lost his election.

    Taking a dig at the Congress and Akalis, he said the previous chief ministers did not give time to their own MLAs and even senior leaders for meetings.

    The former cricketer on Sunday had announced that he would meet Mann to discuss matters related to the revival of the state’s economy.

    “I came here for Punjab’s progress. What should I say about CM saab (Mann), he has no ego and arrogance. He is the same today like he was 10-15 years back and even six months back,” said Sidhu while talking to reporters after the meeting at the Punjab Civil Secretariat. “He has as much pain as I have,” said Sidhu.

    The meeting between Sidhu and Mann started around 5.15 pm and lasted about 50 minutes. Asked whether his meeting with Mann was positive, Sidhu said, “It is very positive. When a person is receptive then you do not feel the passing of 50 minutes.” This meeting was for issues concerning changing the lives of people, he said.

    The former Congress legislator suggested Mann that money to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore could be generated from the liquor sector. Sidhu stressed that it was necessary to generate resources for Punjab’s progress.

    He urged Mann to end the contract system backed by politicians in the sand mining sector and fix the rate of sand. “I see one thing that time will be up for Punjab’s traitors, be it sand mining. I told him the voice of my soul,” said Sidhu.

    “When you fix the rate of sand, everything will be set right. There is nothing called the sand mafia, it is the transport mafia,” said Sidhu. He also cited an example of Telangana which was earning Rs 57 crore per week from sand mining against Rs 40 per annum generated by Punjab.

    Raising the issue of cable monopoly in the state, Sidhu said that he felt that the CM would break it. He said that he had been raising these issues during the previous Congress government.

    Sidhu further pointed out that there were irregularities in the tender system and told CM Mann to bring out a standard tender system.

    Raising the issue of power purchase agreements with private power companies, Sidhu asked Mann to cancel the same and sign “smart PPAs” and issue directive for providing power at cheaper rates. He also said that the nexus between police, politicians and drug peddlers should be broken. “I told him one thing that it is a question of Punjab’s honour which should not be broken,” he said.

  • Navjot Sidhu to meet Punjab CM to discuss ‘revival’ of state’s econo

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said he will meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday to discuss the revival of the state’s economy, days after he had called the CM a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Sidhu, who had been attacking the AAP-led government in the state over various issues including the law and order situation, said Punjab’s resurrection was possible only with a collective effort.

    “Will meet CM @BhagwantMann tomorrow at 5:15 PM in Chandigarh to discuss matters regarding the revival of Punjab’s economy. Punjab’s Resurrection is only possible with an honest collective effort,” said Sidhu in a tweet on Sunday.

    Sidhu on April 22 had said the party lost the Punjab elections because of the “mafia raj” that prevailed in the state and it now needed to reinvent itself, and praised Mann as a “younger brother” and an “honest man”.

    Sidhu had said he will support Mann, whose Aam Aadmi Party trounced the Congress in the recent assembly polls, if he fights against the mafia.

    Notably, AICC incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary had also written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, seeking disciplinary action against Sidhu for trying to “portray himself above the party.”

    In the letter dated April 23, Chaudhary had also forwarded a detailed note of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring regarding Sidhu’s “current activities.” Warring, in his note, had highlighted Sidhu’s “parallel activities” and his recent meetings with expelled leaders, including former MLAs Surjit Singh Dhiman.

    Following the party’s drubbing in the five states that went to polls earlier this year, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had asked the party chief there to resign.

    The Congress appointed Warring in place of Sidhu after its drubbing in the state assembly polls. For months before the elections, Sidhu had been questioning the leadership of the then chief minister Amarinder Singh. He also directed barbs at Charanjit Singh Channi, who took over as the CM ahead of the elections.

  • CM Mann announces MSP on Moong pulses for Punjab farmers

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Assuring that the Punjab Government would purchase Summer Moong Pulse on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today asked farmers to go in for moong-cultivation.

    In a video message here today Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “The state government has taken a big decision on Moong Dal. In fifty-five days Moong crop is ready for cultivation if the farmers sow it on May 10, May 15 or May 20, then between July 10 and July 20 it will be ready. We announce to procure it on Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers who opt for moong cultivation now can go in for cultivation of late growing of paddy variety PR 126 or basmati thus they get an extra crop between paddy and wheat.”

    The Moong cultivation provides farmers with an opportunity to have a third crop in a year. Moreover, moong being a leguminous crop is beneficial for the soil as it helps in nitrogen fixation and contributes to improving soil fertility.

    This year till April 2 in around 3,000 hectors Summer Moong Pulse has been sown and last year in 5,000 hectors (12,000 acres) only in summer and kharif seasons as it is grown across the state. While last year the union government announced an MSP of Rs 7,275 per quintal of moong but was sold above for Rs 7,500 per quintal. While the input cost would be around Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 per acre including seed, labour, and other expenditure. In this season the government is persuading the farmers to grow moong dal in at least 50,000 acres. As the yield of this crop is four to five quintals per acre. With the promise of buying the crop at the MSP, the government will be giving a major push to its cultivation.

    Sources said that as of now the state grows 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of pulses per year against the requirement of six lakh tonnes, which is around 10 per cent of the total consumption in the state. The rest 90 per cent are imported from other states.

    Also, the farmers this time are opting for the PR 126 variety of seed for paddy as 2,600 quintals of this variety were developed by Punjab Agriculture University at Ludhiana and are being sold at Rs 140 per kg against the price of Rs 65 per kg. Due to the late sowing of late varieties of paddy, around 15 to 20 per cent less watering will be required.

    This is the second big announcement by the state government on the agricultural front. Last week, CM Mann had announced to give Rs 1,500 per acre as a subsidy to those going in for direct seeding of rice. 

  • Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann holds meeting with AAP MLAs

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday held a meeting with AAP MLAs who were asked to seek suggestions from people of their constituencies for the state budget 2022-23.

    He is also learnt to have asked the legislators to propagate the recent decisions of the state government in their constituencies.

    In the meeting, the chief minister also heard issues raised by the MLAs of their constituencies and assured to resolve them.

    AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha was also present during the interaction.

    Almost all legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and cabinet ministers participated in the meeting, said party sources.

    “It was basically an interactive session,” said Amritsar East legislator Jeevan Jyot Kaur.

    The Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab had on Monday said it would seek suggestions from the general public for the state budget for the year 2022-23 and called it the ‘Janta budget’.

    A portal has also been launched for seeking opinions of all sections of the society.

    The legislators were also asked to maximise their efforts to encourage farmers to go for direct seeding of rice and get Rs 1,500 per acre as announced by the state government to check depleting underground water table.

    The state government had announced to give Rs 1,500 per acre as financial assistance to each farmer sowing paddy through direct seeding of rice technique.

    The AAP MLAs were also asked to gear up for the upcoming municipal elections.

    Patiala MLA Ajit Pal Singh Kohli said the MLAs raised issues of their constituencies.

    Finance Minister Harpal Cheema told reporters that the agenda of the meeting was to hear issues of all the legislators.

    Speaking on ‘Janta budget’, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak noted that it is the first government which is seeking suggestions from the people on the state budget.

  • Seeds of hatred don’t bloom in Punjab: CM Mann

    Mann said, “Punjab's social bonding is very strong. We live in brotherhood and those who spread hatred find no place here”.