*Opposition Indulging in Politics of Allegations out of Frustration: CM Nayab Singh Saini*

*‘Operation Lotus’ Charge Baseless; People Themselves Seeking Change: CM*

Chandigarh, February 19 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that when a political party begins to lose its acceptability among the public, it resorts to allegations to divert attention from real issues. Referring to the so-called allegations such as “Operation Lotus” being raised in view of the BJP’s growing activity and public support in Punjab, he termed them completely baseless and a symbol of political frustration.

The Chief Minister was addressing a programme organised in Chandigarh on Thursday. He said that if the public itself is making comparisons and searching for alternatives, the blame should not be placed on others. The people of Punjab now want peace and development, and only the BJP can deliver it. Just as Haryana is moving ahead on the path of development, Punjab too is ready for change.

*Open challenge on MSP procurement; purchase of 24 crops a national record*

The Chief Minister threw an open challenge to the opposition on the issue of MSP procurement, saying that if a discussion is held with data, “the truth will come out clearly.”

He said the opposition wants farmers to remain stuck in protests, whereas the government wants farmers to continue to grow and make the nation and state prosperous. Procurement of 24 crops on MSP is a national record — not a slogan but a reality.

*Trade with the US and European Union to benefit farmers and industry*

The Chief Minister clarified that the trade deal with the United States will benefit Indian farmers. Farmers from an agrarian state like Haryana will gain access to the American market for basmati rice, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and processed food.

Similarly, trade with the European Union will create export opportunities in sectors such as textiles, automobiles, and heavy engineering, strengthening the state’s economy.

*Opposition spreading lies on old-age pension*

Responding to allegations about cutting old-age pensions, the Chief Minister said the opposition is spreading lies and confusion on a sensitive issue for cheap popularity.

He clarified that out of the two lakh cases being cited, Over 1.03 lakh beneficiaries had passed away, around 37,000 had incorrect age records and about 39,000 cases were pending for verification, and the document verification is currently underway.

He added that in 1992 the Congress government had fixed the income limit at ₹10,000, which was not revised till 2009. In 2023, the present government increased the income limit from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh, raising beneficiaries to 17.98 lakh, and today more than 20 lakh elderly persons are receiving pensions.

He said pension increased by ₹200 during the INLD rule and by ₹700 during 10 years of Congress, whereas the present government has made a historic increase of ₹2,200 in 11 years.

*Transparency in HPSC recruitment*

Rejecting opposition allegations regarding HPSC recruitments, the Chief Minister said recruitments are being conducted with complete transparency. The earlier system of “parchi-kharchi” has been ended, and merit alone is the basis of recruitment.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have publicly praised Haryana’s transparent recruitment system and cite it as an example for other states.

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Smart Meter Pakhwada being observed from February 9 to 23, 2026

Chandigarh, February 19 - In an initiative to promote awareness and encourage the adoption of smart metering, the Ministry of Power, Government of India is observing ‘Smart Meter Pakhwada’ from February 9 to February 23, 2026 across all states.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL), said that so far, approximately five lakh smart meters have been installed in three cities of UHBVN, namely Karnal, Panipat, and Panchkula. Consumers in these cities can avail a 5 percent rebate on electricity charges by converting their connection from postpaid to prepaid billing mode.

The 'Smart Meter UHBVN' mobile application is also available on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS Store. Through this app, consumers can monitor their daily electricity consumption, receive daily alerts regarding credit balance (in case of Prepaid billing) and can register their complaints regarding Smart Meter. At present, about 31,600 consumers are using mobile applications in UHBVN. For any assistance, consumers may contact the Helpline Numbers 1912 or 1800-180-1550, the spokesperson added.

Consumers are encouraged to adopt prepaid billing and to download the mobile application for better control and efficient management of their electricity usage.

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Ensure Mandatory Registration of NCLT Orders and Court Decrees: FCR Dr. Sumita Misra Issues Strict Directions

Non-compliance leading to stamp duty losses; disciplinary action warned against erring officials

Chandigarh, February 19 – Haryana Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra has directed all Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners in the State to ensure compulsory registration of orders issued by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and court decrees, in accordance with the prescribed legal provisions.

In an official communication, Dr. Misra stated that it has come to the notice of the Government that Chief Revenue Officers (CROs), Sub-Registrars (SRs), and Joint Sub-Registrars (JSRs) have not been fully complying with earlier instructions issued on November 13, 2013, and the notification dated November 22, 2017, regarding registration of NCLT orders and court decrees.

She pointed out that in cases pertaining to NCLT orders, stamp duty is leviable at the rate of 1.5 percent under Article 23-A of Schedule 1-A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, subject to a maximum cap of Rs. 7.5 crore. Similarly, non-bona fide court decrees are also covered under the same provision. Due to non-compliance with these statutory provisions, the State exchequer has reportedly suffered substantial losses in stamp duty revenue.

Dr. Misra emphasized that strict adherence to the provisions of the Indian Stamp Act must be ensured and that proper stamp duty assessment and registration in such cases should be carried out without exception.

She further observed that in several instances, stay orders issued by competent courts relating to the transfer of immovable property are not being entered in the Jamabandi records upon receipt in the offices of Sub-Registrars. This omission, she noted, amounts to a violation of court orders. Accordingly, Circle Revenue Officers (CROs) have been directed to ensure that any stay order received from a competent court is promptly reflected in the revenue records.

The Financial Commissioner Revenue has asked all Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to circulate these instructions to all concerned revenue officers under their control and to ensure strict compliance in letter and spirit. Any lapse in this regard, she warned, shall invite disciplinary action against the defaulting officials.

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*Haryana Tests Over 12 Lakh People for HIV, Expands Treatment Network across State*

Chandigarh, February 19 - Haryana has sharply ramped up its fight against HIV/AIDS, testing more than 12.40 lakh people in the current financial year alone and expanding its treatment infrastructure to reach patients in every corner of the state, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Misra said on Wednesday.

Of the 12,40,205 people screened for HIV between April 2025 and January 2026, out of which 5,877 were found to be HIV positive. The state is currently running 104 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres, including a mobile unit in Faridabad, all offering free and confidential services. Dr. Misra said the government's priority was to make testing and care accessible without stigma for every section of society.

One of the significant achievements this year has been in maternal health. As many as 5,65,830 pregnant women were tested for HIV, of whom 613 tested positive and have been linked to treatment timely which helps in Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV/AIDS .

On the treatment side, Haryana has expanded its Anti-Retroviral Therapy through 24 ART centres spread across major districts including Rohtak, Gurugram, Faridabad, Karnal, Hisar, Ambala and Mewat. Thirteen of these have been newly established within medical colleges, bringing advanced care closer to patients who might otherwise have had to travel long distances. Five Facility Integrated ART Centres and four Link ART Centres are also operational. Altogether 40,851 patients across the state are currently receiving life-saving treatment.

To ease the financial burden on People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) and improve treatment adherence, the state government launched a monthly financial assistance scheme in December 2021, providing Rs. 2,250 per month to eligible PLHIVs. A total of Rs. 54.3 crore has been disbursed under this scheme so far. Registered patients also receive free follow-up care and access to advanced diagnostic procedures — including ultrasound, MRI and CT scans — through a public-private partnership arrangement.

Beyond HIV, Haryana is also addressing sexually transmitted infections through 31 designated clinics offering free counselling, syphilis testing and treatment. A parallel network of 42 targeted intervention projects, run through Red Cross Societies and NGOs, is working with high-risk groups including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, truckers and migrant labourers. These projects offer regular health check-ups, six-monthly HIV testing and condom distribution. For those dependent on opioids, 12 Opioid Substitution Therapy centres and three satellite units are operational, with 9,014 patients registered and 4,569 receiving treatment regularly.

The state has also been active on the awareness front. Radio jingles, digital displays at railway stations, cinema advertisements, SMS campaigns and social media outreach are all part of an intensified communication drive. In schools and colleges, Red Ribbon Clubs have carried the message to 3,397 schools and 429 colleges through rallies, marathons and awareness quizzes.

Haryana has additionally roped in multiple government departments — including Transport, Agriculture, the National Highways Authority of India, Northern Railway, and Women and Child Development — to sensitise communities through its mainstreaming initiative, which has so far reached 49,120 individuals.

Dr. Misra said the scale and coordination of the programme reflected the state's resolve to curb transmission, ensure dignified care for those living with the virus, and work steadily towards the national goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat

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*Haryana Gears Up for First-Ever Fully Digital Census in 2027*

*Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi Chairs One-Day Conference on Preparations for Census-2027*

Chandigarh, February 19 – Large-scale preparations have begun in Haryana for Census-2027. To ensure the successful and time-bound conduct of the Census, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi today virtually addressed a one-day conference of Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Corporation Commissioners. He stated that the Census is not merely a statistical exercise, but the foundation for policies, welfare schemes and infrastructure development for the coming decade. It is also a test of the State’s administrative and technical efficiency, as well as its coordination capabilities.

He said the objective of the conference was to sensitize senior officers and Principal Census Officers about the methodology and procedures of the Census and to clarify their roles and responsibilities.

The Chief Secretary emphasized that Census data is extremely crucial for policy formulation and development planning. The data from the 2011 Census helped identify districts with a low child sex ratio in the State, enabling targeted interventions through the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme.

Sh. Anurag Rastogi said that Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Corporation Commissioners have a vital role in the Census process. Ensuring compliance with Central Government guidelines, appointment and training of enumerators and supervisors, complete district coverage, and timely completion of work are their responsibilities. Divisional Commissioners have been directed to regularly review progress in the districts under their jurisdiction and ensure time-bound implementation.

Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, instructed officers to ensure that there is no scope for error or negligence in the Census process. She stressed the importance of proper training and sensitization of officials and staff and directed that funds allocated for Census activities be utilized judiciously.

She informed that for the first time in the country, the Census will be conducted fully in digital mode. In the first phase, “House Listing and Housing Census” will be conducted from May 1 to May 30, 2026. Since the formation of the State in 1966, this will be the sixth Census for Haryana. Departing from the traditional process, citizens will also be given the option of self-enumeration, for which an online portal will be launched on April 16, 2026.

Dr. Misra said citizens will be able to fill in their details online in advance. After submission of information, they will receive a unique Self-Enumeration ID via SMS and email. When the enumerator visits, he or she will only verify the pre-filled information, thereby saving time and improving data quality.

Director of Census Operations, Haryana, Sh. Lalit Jain informed that approximately 50,000 House Listing Blocks will be covered under 203 rural and urban charges in the upcoming Census. For this extensive exercise, more than 50,000 enumerators and over 8,000 supervisors will be deployed. A phased training system involving master trainers and field trainers will be adopted. To ensure commitment and continuity, the government has decided to provide an honorarium of ₹25,000 upon successful completion of both phases of Census work.

He further informed that enumerators will use a dedicated House Listing Operation mobile application, which will be installed on their registered personal mobile devices. The application will function in offline mode as well, ensuring that Census work is not disrupted in remote and network-deficient areas. Data will automatically synchronize once network connectivity is available. The mobile application will be available on both Android and iOS platforms, with specified minimum operating system, RAM and storage requirements. Real-time monitoring and technology-enabled dashboards will ensure continuous supervision of progress at every level.

It was also informed that to address challenges during the Census, a District Census Coordination Committee will be constituted in each district. Coordination will be ensured among departments such as Revenue, Education, Police, Health, Panchayati Raj, Information Technology and Information and Public Relations. A comprehensive public awareness campaign will also be launched to build public trust and cooperation. Officials clarified that personal information collected during the Census will remain strictly confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

During the conference, a specially prepared ragini titled “Janaganana Buniyad Desh Ki, Loktantra Ki Hai Pehchan” was also presented.

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Smart Meter Pakhwada being observed from February 9 to 23, 2026

Chandigarh, February 19 - In an initiative to promote awareness and encourage the adoption of smart metering, the Ministry of Power, Government of India is observing ‘Smart Meter Pakhwada’ from February 9 to February 23, 2026 across all states.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL), said that so far, approximately five lakh smart meters have been installed in three cities of UHBVN, namely Karnal, Panipat, and Panchkula. Consumers in these cities can avail a 5 percent rebate on electricity charges by converting their connection from postpaid to prepaid billing mode.

The 'Smart Meter UHBVN' mobile application is also available on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS Store. Through this app, consumers can monitor their daily electricity consumption, receive daily alerts regarding credit balance (in case of Prepaid billing) and can register their complaints regarding Smart Meter. At present, about 31,600 consumers are using mobile applications in UHBVN. For any assistance, consumers may contact the Helpline Numbers 1912 or 1800-180-1550, the spokesperson added.

Consumers are encouraged to adopt prepaid billing and to download the mobile application for better control and efficient management of their electricity usage.

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हरियाणा के मुख्यमंत्री श्री नायब सिंह सैनी चंडीगढ़ स्थित आवास संत कबीर कुटीर पर लोगों की समस्याएं सुनते हुए