Punjab Advocate General MS Bedi calls on Hon’ble Governor
Chandigarh, June 14, 2025:Shri Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Advocate General of Punjab, paid a courtesy visit to the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Union Territory, Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, at Raj Bhavan today.
During the meeting, discussions were held on various legal and administrative matters concerning the State of Punjab. The Hon’ble Governor appreciated the role of the Advocate General in upholding the rule of law and providing legal guidance to the State Government.
The visit was marked by cordial interactions and mutual goodwill.
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PUNJAB’S PRIDE: SIX MRSAFPI ALUMNI COMMISSIONED INTO INDIAN ARMY & AIR FORCE
• Aman Arora congratulates young officers and encourages them excel in their roles
• 178 cadets of MRSAFPI commissioned in Armed Forces so far
Chandigarh, June 14:Adding to Punjab’s legacy of producing brave sons of soil, six alumni from Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), Mohali, commissioned into the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, on Saturday.
Three MRSAFPI cadets - Gaurav Singh from Mohali, Nikhil Bansal from Bathinda and Samay Saini from Hoshiarpur - were commissioned into the Indian Army as part of the 156 Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun. The passing out parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Sri Lanka Army Commander and IMA alumnus.
Moreover, three MRSAFPI cadets - Yash Nailwal from Bathinda, Kanishk Chauhan from Mohali and Abhinav Mishra from Ropar - were commissioned into the Indian Air Force during the 215th Course Combined Passing Out Parade at the Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal, Hyderabad. The parade was reviewed by General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, Chief of the Army Staff."
Extending heartiest congratulations to the newly commissioned officers, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora encouraged them to excel in their roles and make Punjab proud. He highlighted that the state government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to fulfil the aspirations of the state’s youth who want to pursue career in the armed forces.
Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd), Director of the Institute, while congratulating the cadets on their commissioning, called upon them to live up to the ideals of the Defence Services and make the Nation, State and Alma Mater proud. He highlighted that with the commissioning of these six cadets, a total of 178 cadets of the Institute have been commissioned into the Armed Forces since its inception. He further mentioned that 15 cadets have received their joining letters for various training academies, while 11 more cadets are awaiting theirs.
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WINGS OF PRIDE: THREE PUNJAB DAUGHTERS COMMISSIONED AS FLYING OFFICERS IN INDIAN AIR FORCE
•Aman Arora extends best wishes to lady officers for a bright future in Air Force
Chandigarh, June 14:Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls, SAS Nagar (Mohali) added another feather in its cap, as three of its alumni, Harnoor Singh, Kritee S Bisht and Alisha, have been commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force, after successfully passing out from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) on Saturday. The passing out parade was reviewed by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM.
Flying Officers Harnoor Singh and Alisha have been commissioned in the Education Branch, while Flying Officer Kritee S Bisht has been commissioned as a Flight Controller in the Administration Branch of the Air Force.
Flying Officer Harnoor Singh is the daughter of S. Vikram Singh Bains, who is Principal in a Government School and hails from Pathankot.Flying Officer Kritee S Bisht is the daughter of Sh. Shakti Sharan Singh, who is a Senior Engineer at PACL, Nangal. Flying Officer Alisha is the daughter of Sh. Sunil Dutt, who is a teacher in a Private School and hails from Jalandhar.
Congratulating the three lady cadets on their remarkable feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said their success will undoubtedly inspire more daughters of Punjab to pursue careers in the defence services. He highlighted the state government's commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's leadership, to supporting the aspirations of young women who aim to join the defence forces as commissioned officers. Notably, the Punjab Government established an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI in July 2023, with the second batch currently undergoing training.
Director of Mai Bhago AFPI, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd.), expressed delight over the commissioning of three alumni as Flying Officers, stating that this achievement will further energise the state government's efforts to encourage more girls to join the armed forces. He extended his warm wishes to the newly commissioned lady officers for a bright future in the Indian Air Force.
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DAY 105 OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: 158 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.9KG HEROIN, 1KG OPIUM
— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 65 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT
CHANDIGARH, June 14:With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 105 days, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 158 drug smugglers and recovered 1.9 kg heroin, 1 kg opium, 2.8 kg ganja and Rs 36340 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 17,484 in just 105 days.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.
Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 250 Police teams, comprising over 1700 police personnel, under the supervision of 112 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 531 locations across the state leading to the registration of 116 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 582 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.
The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 65 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.
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Punjab Government and AAP registers strong objection to ‘One India One Election’ proposal: Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema
Calls move a direct assault on fundamental structure and spirit of Constitution of India as framed by Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
Cites Amendments defining BJP led Union Government’s agenda to conduct state elections at its convenience a year or two after general elections
Chandigarh, June 14:Registering strong objections of the Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal tabled by the BJP-led central government, the Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday described it as a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution of India as framed by Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan after attending a meeting convened by the Joint Parliamentary Committee under the chairmanship of P.P. Choudhary, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that he, along with AAP State President Aman Arora, completely rejected the move. "This proposal by the BJP-led Union Government is a hidden agenda designed to destroy the federal structure of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution of India, meticulously architected by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar," said Finance Minister Cheema.
Referring to the amendments in the proposed Bill, Finance Minister Cheema said that the suggested amendments would effectively render the tenures of state assemblies subject to the discretion of the Union Government, an alarming overreach incompatible with the federal framework enshrined in the Constitution. He said that this bill will further encourage the misuse of Article 356 and 360 by the Union government.
As per section 5 of part 2, If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date. Citing this amendment, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the BJP's One Nation One Election concept would ultimately backfire, as it would enable the Union Government to conduct state elections at its convenience a year or two after general elections, rather than fulfilling the purpose of the proposal as being publicized.
Calling for a united stand to preserve the federal ethos and institutional autonomy of the states, Cheema emphasized that such unilateral proposals risk destabilizing the balance of power essential to India’s democratic fabric. He said that the One Nation One Election bill proposed by the BJP is a calculated move to eliminate regional parties that represent diverse cultures, languages, and regions, and serve as the backbone of Indian democracy.
Reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Punjab Government and Aam Admi Party to upholding the Constitution, the Finance Minister said that the state government and AAP will also oppose this bill in writing to protect the rights of the states against centralized overreach.