INDUS WATER CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE GROUNDWATER OF PUNJAB FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS: CM

SHELVE THE SYL ISSUE FOREVER BY DULY UTILIZING INDUS WATERS FOR NEEDS OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA: CM TO GOI

New Delhi, August 5:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday urged the Government of India (GOI) to duly utilize the water of Chenab river to resolve long pending water dispute between the states of Punjab and Haryana by shelving Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) issue.

Taking part in deliberations during a meeting called by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil over the issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister said that during the last meeting held on July 9, the Union Government informed that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan has been suspended, which opens up a major opportunity for India to utilize water from the Chenab river, one of the western rivers earlier given to Pakistan under the treaty. He said that the centre should now divert Chenab’s water to Indian dams like Ranjit Sagar, Pong, or Bhakra adding that to carry this extra water, new canals and infrastructure would be required which would be built in Punjab state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these canals and infrastructure can be first used to meet the needs of the state and after Punjab’s requirements are met, the water can be supplied to Haryana and Rajasthan through the same canal system.

The Chief Minister said that using Chenab water will reduce Punjab’s dependence on groundwater, revive surface irrigation and support the farming community, which is the backbone of Punjab's economy besides saving groundwater of the state for future generations. He said that Punjab, which is currently facing groundwater depletion, must be prioritized in any future strategies for the usage, diversion, or allocation of these river waters. Bhagwant Singh Mann vehemently pleaded that the waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis adding that new storage dams upstream of existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh should be constructed, which will significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters.

Batting for shelving of the SYL canal issue, the Chief Minister unequivocally said that Sarda Yamuna link for transfer of surplus Sarda water to the Yamuna River and diversion of Chenab water to River Beas through Rohtang tunnel should be done to eliminate the need for the SYL canal. He said that the long-conceived project of Sharda-Yamuna Link should be taken up on priority and surplus water be transferred to the river Yamuna at a suitable location. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the additional water so available could offset the balance water requirement of the state of Haryana from the Ravi- Beas system apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of the capital city of Delhi and availability of the Yamuna water to the state of Rajasthan.

The Chief Minister said that under the aforesaid eventuality again the issue of construction of SYL canal could be shelved and put to rest forever. Batting for Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) canal, he said that the MoU of May 12, 1994 of allocation of Yamuna waters between Delhi, U.P, H.P. and Rajasthan is to be reviewed after 2025. So, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab should be included as partner state of Yamuna waters allocations and 60% waters of surplus Yamuna should be considered for the state while apportioning the Yamuna waters.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana has enough scope to get additional waters from other sources which also needs to be accounted for. He said that Haryana is also receiving 2.703 MAF of River Ghaggar, Tangri Nadi, Markanda River, Saraswati Nadi, Chautang-Rakshi, Nai Nalah, Sahibi Nadi, Krishna Dhuan and Landoha Nalah which is unaccounted till now while deciding the allocations of water between the states. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that SYL canal is an 'emotive issue' and Punjab will have serious law and order issues and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also bearing the brunt.

The Chief Minister categorically said that land for SYL canal is not available as of today adding that out of 34.34 MAF water of three rivers, Punjab was allocated only 14.22 MAF, which is 40%. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the remaining 60% was allocated to Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, even though none of these rivers actually flow through these states. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to reduction in surface waters, pressure is putting on ground waters Ground adding that out of 153 blocks in Punjab, 115 have been declared over-exploited (75%), whereas in Haryana 61% (88 out of 143) are over exploited.

The Chief Minister said that the number of tube wells in the state has increased from 6 lakhs in 1980’s to 14.76 lakh in 2018 (this includes the tube well installed only for agriculture) showing an increase of more than 200% during the last 35 years. He said that Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction (157%) in the entire nation, even higher than Rajasthan (150%) adding that Punjab ignores its own water requirement and gives about 60% water to meet the water requirements of non-riparian states in which Ravi-Beas and Sutlej Rivers do not pass. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab made a major contribution of 124.26 lakh metric tonne of wheat during 2024 which is 47% of the total procured in India and also contributed 24% rice in the centre pool.

The Chief Minister said that the total water requirement of Punjab is 52 MAF and water available with the state of Punjab is only 26.75 MAF (Surface water from three rivers 12.46 MAF and Ground water 14.29 MAF). He said that the water of the Punjab Rivers is shared among the partner states whereas the flood from these rivers caused damage only in Punjab putting the State of Punjab to a huge financial burden every year. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as the benefits are shared in a certain ratio among the partner states, it is therefore imperative if the State of Punjab is appropriately compensated by the partner states regarding the damages and destructions caused by the floods on an annual basis.

The Chief Minister said that agreements and decisions of tribunals should be reviewed in light of changed circumstances and environmental developments, as international norms mandate a review every 25 years. He said that Punjab seeking share of Yamuna water is similar to Haryana's share of Ravi Beas waters as Irrigation Commission Report, Government of India, 1972 held that Punjab is riparian to Yamuna river. Bhagwant Singh Mann lamented that GOI is of the view that Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966 is silent about Yamuna Waters as these waters were not considered shareable between Punjab and Haryana whereas the Act is also silent about Ravi Waters adding that Punjab has already enacted “Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004”, terminating 1981 Agreement relating to Surplus Ravi-Beas waters.

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Punjab Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with Freedom Fighters and Their Families: Harpal Singh Cheema

Directs Fast-Tracking of Demands of ‘Freedom Fighters, Successors Organisation’

Chandigarh, August 5-In a resolute step towards honouring the legacy of India's freedom struggle, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday directed the Department of Freedom Fighters to expedite the resolution of all legitimate demands raised by the ‘Freedom Fighters, Successors Organisation’. He emphasised that the nation remains indebted to the valiant sacrifices made during the independence movement and affirmed the state’s unwavering commitment to realising the dreams of its freedom heroes while safeguarding the dignity of their descendants.

During a comprehensive meeting held with representatives of the ‘Freedom Fighters, Successors Organisation, Punjab’, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema engaged in detailed discussions on various issues raised by them. Recognising the emotional and historical significance of their concerns, he directed the Special Chief Secretary, Freedom Fighters, Raji P. Shrivastava, to fast-track the redressal process, ensuring the timely and transparent resolution of all legitimate demands.

“The Punjab Government stands shoulder to shoulder with our freedom fighters and their successors, not only in spirit but also in action,” said Finance Minister Cheema while adding that they laid the foundation of our nation with courage and conviction, and it is our solemn duty to honour that legacy with justice and dignity.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the AAP-led Punjab government’s commitment to upholding the promises made to freedom fighters and their families, stressing that no effort will be spared in recognising their rightful place in Punjab’s development narrative.

The meeting concluded with assurances of continued engagement and accountability, laying the foundation for collaborative efforts to address concerns and create lasting impact in the lives of those who carry forward the legacy of India’s freedom struggle.

Representing Freedom Fighters, Successors Organisation, Punjab, State President Chatin Singh Sekhon Mansa, General Secretary Ravinder Singh Nangla Bathinda, and Senior Vice President Major Singh Barnala presented the organisation's demands and issues during the meeting.

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Final Sectoral Committees Notified for Industrial Policy Enhancement in Punjab: Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora

Onkar Singh Pahwa of Avon Cycles, Paritosh Garg of Happy Forgings, Sachit Jain of Vardhman Steel, Varinder Gupta of IOL Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals and Dr Bishav Mohan of DMCH are among Chairmen of the newly formed committees

Chandigarh, August 05, 2025:In continuation of the Punjab Government’s initiative to gather suggestions from industry experts for strengthening the state’s industrial policy and improving the ease of doing business, Punjab Cabinet Minister Shri Sanjeev Arora today announced the formation of fifteen more sectoral committees, bringing the total number of committees to twenty-four. Today’s announcement marks the final list of committees declared by the Minister.

Shri Arora made this announcement at a press conference here on Tuesday and said that the newly formed committees include members from diverse industrial sectors and will serve as think tanks to recommend sector-specific policy measures. The new committees are focused on IT Sector, Bicycle Industry, Auto & Auto Components, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, Steel & Rolling Mills, Plastic & Chemical Products, Logistics & Warehousing, Film Media, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Universities & Coaching Institutions, Hospitals & Health Care, Startups, Retail and ESDM- Electronics Systems Design & Manufacturing.

The chairmen of the newly formed 15 committees are as under: Pratap Aggarwal (IDS Infotech, Mohali)- IT Sector, Onkar Singh Pahwa (Avon Cycles, Ludhiana)-Bicycle Industry, Paritosh Garg (Happy Forgings, Ludhiana)- Auto & Auto Components, Inderveer Singh (Evage Motors, Mohali)- Electric Vehicles, Ashish Kumar (Verbio, Sangrur)- Renewable Energy, Sachit Jain (Vardhman Steel, Ludhiana)- Steel & Rolling Mills, Abhi Bansal (ASSOCHAM & MD Sarswati Agro Chemicals, SAS Nagar)- Plastic & Chemical Products, Ashwani Nayar (Capt.) (Hind Termina, Ludhiana)- Logistics & Warehousing, Dinesh Auluck (Speed Records)- Film Media, Varinder Gupta (IOL Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Barnala)- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Jaspal Singh Sandhu (Dr.) (Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar)- Universities & Coaching Institutions, Bishav Mohan (Dr) (DMC Ludhiana)- Hospitals & Health Care, Mamta Bhardwaj (Neuron, Punjab Startup Hub)- Startups, Umang Jindal (Home Land Group)- Retail, Kamaljeet Singh (Dr) (Semiconductor Laboratory Ltd)- ESDM- Electronics Systems Design & Manufacturing.

Shri Sanjeev Arora said the core task for each of the committees will be to provide the Government with a structured set of inputs for a customised industrial framework/policy for their specific sector keeping in mind Punjab's unique industrial eco system along with structural and fiscal context. For this the committee should examine policies and frameworks of all other relevant states in the country and thus develop a 'best-in-class' policy framework for Punjab. The committees shall submit these recommendations in writing by 1st October 2025.

Each committee will be having a Chairperson and some members from the industry. However more members may be added at the discretion of the Government. Members will be diverse in size, scale, and geography to ensure all views are tabled during discussions. Members will also represent different sub- segments of the overall sector.

Secretariat support to each committee shall be provided by the Member-Secretary of the Committee as noted above, who shall also be in-charge of organizing the meetings of the Committee and preparing the minutes. General Manager District Industries Centre (GM DIC) from Department of Industries & Commerce and the relevant Sector Officer from Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (PBIP) shall assist the Committee with relevant administrative support, as necessary.

Earlier, nine committees such as Spinning and Weaving Committee, Apparels Committee, Dyeing and Finishing Units Committee, Sports/Leather Goods Committee, Machine/Hands Tools Committee, Food Processing & Dairy, Tourism & Hospitality Committee, Heavy Machinery, Furniture & Ply Industry Committee were constituted.

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Vigilance Bureau busts RTA-State Driving Centre nexus in fake heavy driving licence racket; four including MVI four arrested

Chandigarh, August 5, 2025 –Aiming to curb the menace of corruption among the public servants, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has unearthed a major corruption racket involving the issuance of fake heavy vehicle driving licences, exposing a nexus between officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Gurdaspur, the State Institute of Automobile and Driving Skills Centre (SIADS) Mahuana, in Sri Mukatsar Sahib district and private document agents operating in Gurdaspur district. In this case the VB has registered a corruption case against seven accused out of which four accused including Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) have been arrested.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the State VB said acting on a complaint received from a resident of Pathankot, the Bureau has launched an in-depth probe against Pratibha Sharma, a Data Entry Operator at RTA Gurdaspur. Following investigations, FIR No. 32 dated August 4, 2025, was registered at VB Police Station Amritsar range under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, IPC, and IT Act.

He further added that the verification revealed that 23 out of 51 driving training certificates purportedly issued by SIADS centre Mahuana were found to be fake as only 27 legitimate certificate numbers were on record. Crucially, system-generated fields like the unique certificate number, QR code and embedded mobile number within the receipt number could only be altered by institute officials, making these vital markers of authenticity. Any mismatch among these parameters confirmed fraudulent creation.

The spokesperson informed that the investigation pointed to the role of private agents including Kulbir Documents Center, Shelly Documents Center, GMD Documents Center, and Punjab Documents, in sourcing applicants and facilitating forged documentation in exchange for bribes. Financial trails showed direct payments from these agents into the bank accounts of Rakesh Kumar, a former RTA Data Entry Operator now posted at SDM Office Batala and Pratibha Sharma. Sukhdev Singh, Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Instructor and GI Driving In-charge at SIADS Mahuana, misused his access to the system to generate fake certificates, causing direct financial loss to the state exchequer by illegally claiming Rs. 430 government fee per certificate.

In this case the VB has arrested four key accused: Sukhdev Singh, MVI and GI driving incharge SIADS centre who is a resident of village Maidowal Kalan in Gurdaspur, Amit Kumar alias Shelly of Shelly Documents Center, Jagpreet Singh of Punjab Documents and Rakesh Kumar, currently posted in Batala. Raids are being conducted to arrest the remaining three accused Kulbir Singh of Kulbir Documents Center, Rakesh Kumar of GMD Documents Center and Pratibha Sharma of RTA Gurdaspur. All arrested individuals would be presented before the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation into this case was under progress, he added.

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Jal Bhawan to be built in Mohali, all citizen services will be available under one roof: Mundian

Water Supply and Sanitation Minister holds meeting with officials for construction of Jal Bhawan

Chandigarh, August 5-In keeping with the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led State Government to provide hassle free and transparent citizen centric services to the people of the state, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department is constructing a Jal Bhawan in Mohali where people will get all services under one roof.

It was disclosed by Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian after holding a meeting with the concerned officials for the construction of this building. He said that this building will be completed within two years. In the meeting, the Chief Architect of the Architecture Department also gave a presentation regarding the construction of Jal Bhawan.

Mr. Mundian said that the Water Supply and Sanitation Department does not have any such building in Mohali or Chandigarh, in which all the staff of the department can sit together. For this purpose, it was decided to build a modern state of the art Jal Bhawan, which will cater to all the offices of the department. This will streamline the functionality of the office and the common people will also get all the services under one roof.

Explaining the features of the new Jal Bhawan to be built, Mr. Mundian said that facilities like a large auditorium, various types of conference halls, a large meeting hall, a crèche, rest house will be provided in this building so that the work related to the department can be carried out smoothly.

The Minister instructed the officials to not compromise with the quality aspect while carrying out the project and said that high-class facilities should be provided.

During the meeting, the Architecture Department informed that this building will be used for Griha/ECBC. It will be built as per norms, so that the cost of operating this building can be reduced in the future.

Principal Secretary Neel Kanth Avhad informed that the department has a budget provision of Rs. 10 Crore for the construction of this building for the year 2025-26 and if this budget is spent by the PWD Department by the month of November-December, then the Finance Department will be approached to provide more budget.

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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan condoles the demise of Satyapal Malik former Governor Jammu & Kashmir

Chandigarh, August 5:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Satyapal Malik former Governor Jammu & Kashmir. He will always live in our hearts because of the voice he raised in support of farmers movement.

Speaker Sandhwan said that I am deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and I pray to the God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Kanugo for accepting Rs 2,000 bribe

Chandigarh August 5, 2025 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state on Tuesday arrested Jatinder Singh, Kanugo, posted at Shahkot, Jalandhar district for receiving a bribe of Rs 2000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered on an online complaint lodged by a resident of Ludhiana on the Chief Minister Anti Corruption Action line.

He further added that the complainant has alleged that the above mentioned accused had demanded Rs 6,000 as a bribe in lieu of entering mutation of land belonging to his family member.

During verification it was found that the said Kanugo had demanded Rs 6000 bribe and taken Rs 2000 for this purpose.

The spokesperson informed that during investigation, the allegations levelled in this complaint were proved to be true.

On the basis of this enquiry a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused Kanugo. He would be produced in competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress.

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e-KYC process completed with regard to 1.27 Crore beneficiaries

· Mansa, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib & Patiala among top 3

· E-Tender floated for procuring 47500 Tarpaulins

· Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak reviews preparations for paddy procurement season

Chandigarh, August 5:The e-KYC process is gathering momentum with each passing day and till now the process has been completed with regard to 1,27, 84000 (1.27 Crore) beneficiaries. The Districts of Mansa, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala are the top 3 places respectively in this regard.

In a review meeting held here today at the Anaj Bhawan, the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak was apprised by the senior officers of the department about the latest position concerning the e-KYC process.

It is noteworthy that e-KYC is a digital method to verify the identity and address of the beneficiary primarily using the Aadhaar Card Number and the Biometrics for authentication. The wheat to eligible beneficiaries is distributed under Public Distribution System (PDS) in 2 categories. Under Antyodaya Ann Yojna (AAY), 35 Kg of Wheat is given on per family and per month basis while under the Priority Households (PHH) category, 5 Kg Wheat on per person per month basis is provided free of cost under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

Regarding the status of tarpaulins in connection with preparations for the upcoming Paddy procurement season 2025-26, it was brought to the notice of the Minister that the PUNGRAIN, which is the Nodal Agency for procurement of tarpaulins, has floated an e-tender for purchase of 47500 LDPE polythene tarpaulins on behalf of all the State Procurement Agencies. Besides, the department already has 95000 tarpaulins from previous year.

The Minister also reviewed the progress of construction of 46 LMT covered godowns allocated by Government of India. He directed the department to impress upon the bidder to complete the construction of covered godowns at 3.75 Lakh MT for which Letters of Award have been already issued and also directed to complete the formalities of awarding the covered godowns of 9.55 LMT capacity at the earliest. Further, he also instructed the department to complete the tendering of covered godowns of remaining 32.70 LMT capacity to ensure the maximum space is available for storage of rice during the ensuing paddy procurement season 2025-26.

Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tiwari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Secretary PUNGRAIN Kamal Kumar Garg and Additional Director Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar along with GM (Finance) Sarvesh Kumar Sharma.

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Punjab becomes 1st State in India to upgrade Cooperative Banks to Finacle 10 Core Banking System

SAS Nagar and Ropar Central Cooperative Bank have successfully upgraded their CBS from Finacle 7 to Finacle 10

Chandigarh, August 5:In a major step towards technological advancement in the cooperative banking sector, the SAS Nagar Central Cooperative Bank and The Ropar Central Cooperative Bank have successfully upgraded their Core Banking Solution (CBS) from Finacle 7 to Finacle 10. With this achievement, Punjab becomes the first state in India to initiate and complete this significant digital transition in its cooperative banking network.

This milestone reflects the State’s growing commitment to modernising cooperative banks, ensuring faster, secure, and more customer-friendly banking services at the grassroots level. This progress has been achieved under the able leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, whose focus on digital transformation and rural empowerment has provided the necessary direction and support for such reforms.

The successful migration was made possible through the strategic leadership and support of Financial Commissioner Cooperation Alok Shekhar who played a vital role in driving this initiative forward. His guidance was instrumental in shaping the vision and execution of this project.

Speaking on the development FCC Alok Shekhar stated, “The successful upgrade to Finacle 10 reflects Punjab’s commitment to strengthening rural banking infrastructure through technology. It is a major step toward delivering efficient, secure, and transparent banking services across the cooperative network. I congratulate all teams involved for achieving this milestone.”

MD Punjab State Cooperative Bank (PSCB) Harjit Singh Sandhu highlighted that the transition to Finacle 10 was a long-awaited step in reinforcing the IT backbone of cooperative banks. He said, “With Finacle 10, our banks are now equipped to offer better customer service, quicker transactions, and robust cybersecurity features. This upgradation positions us to meet the evolving needs of our customers, especially in rural and agricultural sectors.”

He also congratulated the MDs/DMs and IT teams of SAS Nagar and Ropar District Central Cooperative Banks for their dedication and efforts in successfully implementing this complex and significant migration.

Registrar Cooperative Societies Girish Dayalan was also actively involved in facilitating coordination and implementation during the migration process.

The transition is now being viewed as a model for cooperative banking reforms nationwide. Other cooperative banks in Punjab are scheduled to upgrade to Finacle 10 in a phased manner over the coming months.

This initiative marks a pivotal point in the evolution of Punjab’s cooperative banking system, setting a national benchmark for innovation, efficiency, and farmer-centric development in the sector.

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Sant Seechewal Writes letter to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Over Parliament Disruptions

Crores of taxpayers’ money being wasted due to uproar in Parliament

₹2.5 lakh spent every minute during sessions

New Delhi/Chandigarh, August 5-Rajya Sabha Member and Environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has written a letter to the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, expressing concern over the ongoing disruptions in Parliament. In his letter, he alleged that while crores of rupees from taxpayers are being spent, no productive work is being done in Parliament.

In the three-page letter, Sant Seechewal claimed that during the ongoing session of Parliament, ₹2.5 lakh is spent every minute. On average, one day of Parliament proceedings costs around ₹10 crore. In the last 12 days alone, approximately ₹120 crore has been spent, even though the session has failed to function properly during this period.

He stated in the letter that raising the issues of the people is the primary duty of the opposition, but the environment in Parliament is being made such that the opposition is forced to resort to protests and disruptions.

Sant Seechewal emphasized that a Member of Parliament gets the opportunity to raise public issues during Zero Hour, Question Hour, and through Special Mentions. But when Parliament is not in session or not functioning properly, all these rights are effectively taken away from the MPs. He noted that no one wins from the disruptions in Parliament; rather, it is a loss for the common people of the country—those who elected their representatives with the hope that one day their voice would be echoed in the House.

He pointed out that even after more than 75 years of independence, the country still struggles to provide clean drinking water, pure air, and healthy food to its people—all of which are constitutional rights essential for human life.

Due to unemployment, the youth of the country are either falling into the trap of drug addiction or migrating abroad. Those who move overseas for better job opportunities often face great hardships. Parliament, he said, has never seriously discussed their plight.

He also referred to how the newly elected President of the United States once had Indian nationals handcuffed and deported like criminals. Similarly, 13 young Indian men, who had reportedly joined the Russian army, are still missing, and their families continue to await their return. Yet, such crucial issues have never found space for discussion in the Parliament.