Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to embark on a crucial visit to the border districts of Ferozepur and Amritsar in Punjab on September 26, where he will undertake significant official engagements. In Ferozepur, Shah is slated to inaugurate the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) satellite center, marking a momentous occasion for the region. Subsequently, he will make his way to the holy city of Amritsar to preside over the North Zone Council (NZC) meeting, which is expected to address pressing issues affecting North Indian states and Union Territories.
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar disclosed this information during a press conference, along with Punjab BJP in-charge and Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, following the conclusion of the party's core committee meeting. “Union Home Minister Amit Shah would lay the foundation stone for the Rs 500 crore Ferozepur PGI Satellite Centre during his visit to Punjab on September 26. This move signifies a major development in the healthcare infrastructure of the region,” he said.
The North Zone Council meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is expected to witness the participation of Chief Ministers from key states including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, the Lieutenant Governors representing the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be in attendance, along with the Administrator of Chandigarh and their respective delegations. The primary focus of the meeting will revolve around security matters, with a specific emphasis on combating drug smuggling, a persistent concern in the region.
Interestingly, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, a day prior to this announcement, issued a stern warning to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann concerning the status of Chandigarh as the capital city of Punjab. Jakhar took to social media to assert, "Punjab’s right over Chandigarh is non-negotiable. Any purported move to give away or exchange our land will never be acceptable to the Punjabis."
The longstanding dispute over Chandigarh's status as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana has been a contentious issue between the neighboring states for years. Chief Minister Mann had previously appealed to the Central Government for a separate land allocation in Chandigarh to house Punjab's assembly building, a move that drew criticism from opposition parties within the state.
In an unexpected development, Punjab Youth Congress leader Akshay Sharma announced his resignation from the Congress party during Jakhar's press conference and declared his affiliation with the BJP. Sharma cited concerns about the Congress's promotion of “sycophancy and incompetence” as reasons for his departure. The decision follows the recent appointment of Mohit Mohindra, son of veteran Congress leader and former Minister Brahm Mohindra, as the new Punjab Youth Congress president, after a closely contested internal election.
Jakhar, responding to media queries, addressed international relations, expressing hope that the current diplomatic tensions between Canada and India would be resolved amicably. He underlined India's commitment to universal peace and the fight against terrorism, emphasizing that India would not tolerate any compromise on its territorial integrity. He also commented on the ongoing Visa-related issues, expressing hope that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would reconsider his position and acknowledging India's diplomatic prowess on the global stage.
