Month: January 2016
Lala Lajpat Rai inculcated the spirit of earnestness and social justice amongst us all. The youth of India must learn about the freedom struggle and imbibe his values of patriotism and determination. We fondly remember him on his 150th Birth Anniversary.
ਲਾਲਾ ਲਾਜਪਤ ਰਾਏ ਸਾਡੇ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਇਮਾਨਦਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਜਗਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਸੰਗਰਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਖੁਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਗਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਤਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨ। 150ਵੇਂ ਜਨਮ ਦਿਵਸ ‘ਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਯਾਦ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ।
Sangat singing hymns left from Raman Mandi Bathinda to Sachkand Sri Hazur Sahib by the second train. Along with the train, I also flagged off four special buses from Bathinda city to Salasar Dham, Rajasthan. The Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Scheme is an initiative to promote peace and religious and cultural harmony under which a series of such trains and buses would take devotees free of cost to various shrines on the journey of a lifetime.
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਗਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੂਜੀ ਰੇਲ ਗੱਡੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਰਾਮਾ ਮੰਡੀ ਤੋਂ ਸੱਚਖੰਡ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਜ਼ੂਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਰਵਾਨਾ ਹੋਈ। ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਰੇਲ ਗੱਡੀ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਲਾਸਰ ਧਾਮ ਲਈ ਚਾਰ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਬੱਸਾਂ ਵੀ ਰਵਾਨਾ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ। ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਤੀਰਥ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਸਕੀਮ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ, ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਅਤੇ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਸਦਭਾਵਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਪਰਾਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਤਹਿਤ ਵੱਖ ਵੱਖ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਰੁਹਾਨੀ ਸਫਰ ਲਈ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੇਲ ਗੱਡੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਬੱਸਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
A grand memorial, Fateh Burj has been raised at a cost of Rs 46.02 crores, a few kilometres from Mohali. It has a special place in Sikh history. It was here that Banda Singh Bahadur, one of the most respected Sikh warriors, won a decisive battle against Wazir Khan, commander of the Mughal army.
The 328 feet high Fateh Burj, highest Burj in the country, is a befitting tribute to mark the victory and is dedicated to establishment of Sikh Misls in 1711. Besides a museum that records the history related to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a war field has been created on 21 acres. It is the place where historic Sirhind battle between Sikhs and Mughals had been fought on May 12, 1710.
ਬਾਬਾ ਬੰਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ, ਚੱਪੜਚਿੜੀ-ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕ ਪਿੰਡ ਚੱਪੜਚਿੜੀ ਵਿਖੇ 46.02 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੀ ਲਾਗਤ ਨਾਲ ਬਾਬਾ ਬੰਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਉਸਾਰੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਰਹਿੰਦ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਇਥੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਚਾ 328 ਫੁੱਟ ਦਾ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ ਬੁਰਜ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਜੋ 1711 ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਿਸਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ ਹੈ। ਬਾਬਾ ਬੰਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੇ ਅਜਾਇਬ ਘਰ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ 21 ਏਕੜ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਗ ਦਾ ਖੇਤਰ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਥਾਂ ‘ਤੇ ਹੀ 12 ਮਈ, 1710 ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮੁਗਲਾਂ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਸਰਹਿੰਦ ਦੀ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਲੜਾਈ ਲੜੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ।
Virasat-e-Khalsa
To link new generations with rich religious legacy, the Punjab Government has built Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Virasat-e-Khalsa depicts 500-year old glorious legacy of Punjab.
ਵਿਰਾਸਤ-ਏ-ਖਾਲਸਾ
ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਵਿਰਸਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਹਾਨ ਹੈ। ਨਵੀਂ ਪੀੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਅਮੀਰ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਵਿਕਾਸਤ ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਨ ਦੇ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਬਾਦਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ-ਏ-ਖਾਲਸਾ ਦਾ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ 500 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਖੂਬੀ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਤੱਕ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਵਿਖਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। 250 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੀ ਲਾਗਤ ਨਾਲ 100 ਏਕੜ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਅੰਤਰ-ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਆਰਚੀਟੈਕਟ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੋਸ਼ੇ ਸੈਫਦੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਡਿਜ਼ਾਇਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਹਿਲੇ ਫੇਜ਼ ਦੇ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੁਣ ਇਸਦੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਫੇਜ਼ ਦਾ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਦਸੰਬਰ 2016 ਤੱਕ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।
The republic day celebrations witnessed an acknowledgment of the bravery & patriotism of our police force and honoured citizens. I salute to the nation and its people.
Punjab chief ministerParkash Singh Badal opened to the public for the first time a 200-year-old heritage monument the memorial ofMaharaja Duleep Singhalso known as the Bassian Kothi at Bassian village near Raikot on Sunday after it underwent a restoration process for over four years that cost the state government more than 5 crore.
The restoration began in 2011 and the government had roped in the Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) group and the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) for the purpose.
Before 2011, the memorial was in a shambles and the irrigation department, which had its charge, even planned to auction it. However, thanks to former Punjabi Sahit Akademi president Gurbhajan Singh Gill, a noted Punjabi writer, an association the Maharaja Duleep Singh Trust was formed to ensure the restoration of the monument.
After we formed the trust, we could take up the issue with the chief minister. He visited the monument in April 2011 and assured is that the monument would be restored. With this inauguration, he has kept his word, said Gill, the chairman of the Trust.
At the event, Badal lauded the trust for caring about the states heritage and bringing it to his notice. We should be proud of our heritage and the government is working on several other historical projects too and these will also be thrown open, the CM added.
PHTPB additional chief executive officer Navjotpal Singh Randhawa said details on the memorial would soon be uploaded on the boards website. We will prepare special brochures and get in marked on the states map and will market it with tour operators so that tourists from the across the world can access this historical memorial, he said.
A part of the memorial has also been turned into a museum where rare pictures of the Maharajas life are on display. An open air theatre, interpretation centre on his life and parks have been added in about 13 acres (around 5.7 lakh square foot).
At the event, tourism and cultural affairs minister Sohan Singh Thandal, Vidhan Sabha speaker Charanjeet Singh Atwal, irrigation minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and other political leaders were present. Hundreds of villagers were also present.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal sought the intervention of hisSikkimcounterpartPawan KumarChamling for immediate restoration of Maryada (Sikh religious code of conduct) in historical gurdwaras in the north eastern state.In a letter to Chamling, the Chief Minister apprised him that there were a number of historical Sikh gurdwaras in Sikkim which were related to the visits of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, to the state.
He said these gurdwaras were located in Gurudongmar, Thanggu, Lachen, Chungthang, Tumthang and Lachung and added that a large number of devotees visit them every year.However, Badal said theShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC), Amritsar, which was the apex religious representative body of the Sikhs, had brought to his notice that the Maryada has been discontinued in above said gurdwaras since last few years.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that the Sewa-Sambhal of the sacredGuru Granth Sahib(holy book for Sikhs) and also of the Gurdwaras has been taken away from the local Sikhs and the boards indicating Guru Nanak Devs visits at these places have been removed.He further said the historical symbols related to Guru Nanak Dev in Chungthang have been given Bodhi form by erecting walls around them. He said even Gurus belongings were also not being displayed for visitors at Lachen and lamented that even the Nishan Sahibs have been removed from these places.
The Chief Minister said all this has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and has caused resentment amongst the members.Seeking personal intervention of the Sikkim chief minister, Badal urged him to give an audience and support to the five members delegation formed by SGPC under the leadership of its General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, which has been specially deputed to visit Sikkim regarding the issues of restoration of Maryada in gurdwaras of the state.
The Punjab Government waived the registration fee charged for the sale or transfer of property between spouses and blood relations in urban and rural areas with immediate effect.
The levy of registration fee often prompted people to hold properties on general power of attorney leading to family disputes.In the rural areas, such beneficiaries earlier had to pay 2 per cent (1 per cent infrastructure cess and 1 per cent registration charges) of the collector rate as registration fee. In the urban areas, people had to cough up 5 per cent (4 per cent infrastructure cess and 1 per cent registration fee) for such transactions.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is believed to be the brainchild behind the waiver, which has come at a time when people are upset at being made to pay a huge fee to the state government in the name of infrastructure cess or registration charges in case of intra-family transfer of properties.People were also peeved at the levy of stamp duty on registration of power of attorneys, particularly in the urban areas of Punjab.
It has been slashed from the existing 2 per cent to 0.5 per cent and will be adjustable towards the payable stamp duty at the time of execution of sale deed with respect to the property in question.On all other powers of attorney, a stamp duty of Rs 2,000 will be levied, said Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia.
The state government, he said, had also decided to rationalise collector rates throughout the state and a high-level committee comprising Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and Principal Secretary (Finance) had been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal.He said the committee would submit its report to the council of ministers for a final decision.
The minister pointed out that a large number of allottees had availed of the golden opportunity of getting their immoveable properties (plots/houses) allotted by the government or a public sector undertaking or local bodies registered through conveyance deeds at rates mentioned in their allotment letters.The allottees were required to get conveyance deeds executed at the collector rate, which was linked to the present market rate of property. Majithia urged all such allotees to get conveyance deeds of their properties registered by the June 9 deadline.
Engineering firm Rays Power Infra said it has commissioned31.5 MW solarphotovoltaic project of Mumbai-based Pan India Infra Projects in Punjab.Rays Power commissioned 31.5 MW utility scale photovoltaic solar power project in Punjab, which was developed in two phases of21 MW at Lakhmirwalaand10.5 MW at Barre, in Mansadistricts,a statement issued here stated.With this project, Rays Powers commissioned project portfolio has reached 99 MW in the solar sector alone.This project is expected to generate aroundfive crore units of electricityannually and supplyclean energyto power more than10,000 homes.
We have undertaken the designing, engineering, procurement, erection and commissioning of the entire project in a span of less than 100 days. The project intends to set a new benchmark by contributing towards the reduction of 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, its Director Pawan Sharma said.He further said with the strong order book of more than 150 MW for this financial year, the company is are eyeing a growth at a rate of 400 per cent this year and thereby contributingsignificantly to the ambitious target of 100 GW set by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Punjab Education Department will now provide professional guidance to students from Class 10th to Class 12th and help them choose the right career according to their aptitude.
Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said it was felt that due to a lack of counselling students get stuck in a career for which they do not have the aptitude and waste their education and life pursuing wrong professions.
He said while interacting with students he felt children from Class X to XII needed professional counsellors who could determine their aptitude adopting scientific and psychological tools and guide them in choosing a career according to their strengths.
Cheema said counselling would be organised in all districts and its first phase would be inaugurated by him in Ludhiana tomorrow.He appealed to the parents to take active interest in the counselling exercise and bring their wards for counselling.
The minister said keeping in view the greater rush during next three months the counselling centers would work in all district headquarters 24×7 and he has asked District Education Officers (DEOs) to setup separate helpline district wise to ensure easy access to students.Meanwhile, Cheema said the state Education Department is all set to show the door to long absentee teachers and employees in the month of June 2015, who have failed to join duties despite various reminders.
The Minister said he has taken a serious view of menace of long absentee teachers, who were blocking the posts of the department and creating hurdles in its smooth functioning.
He said he has issued directions to all DEOs to submit list of such teachers by May 31, 2015 and to dismiss them within the month of June after due process.
He said that DEOs failing to submit list would face departmental action.
Sukhbir Singh Badal 