Punjab CM condemns maltreatment of Giani Raghbir Singh
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh on Friday sought the severest of severe action against Air India employees responsible for misbehaviour with former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh. In a statement issued on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the incident of maltreatment of the former Jathedar Giani Raghbeer Singh is highly condemnable. He said that this sort of irresponsible behaviour by the Air India authorities is unwarranted and undesirable. Mann said that the Singh Sahib is a respected personality of Punjab in general and the Sikh community in particular and this sought of mistreatment with him cannot be tolerated. Mann said that this unfortunate incident has bruised the psyche of every Sikh and has hurt their sentiments. He urged the Government of India to take exemplary action against the erring employees of Air India so that it acts as a deterrent for others. He said that the Union government should immediately intervene in the matter as it is directly related to the emotions of the entire Sikh community across the globe.
Himachal CM instructs to clear first installment of pending liabilities by 28 April
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over the meeting of the Finance department on Friday, instructed to clear all the pending liabilities of contractors of the Public Works Department and Jal Shakti Vibhag before 30 April. He said that the first installment of the pending liabilities will be disbursed before 28 April and the remaining amount by 30th of this month. He directed both departments to work speedily to prepare the bills and ensure their timely submission to the treasuries for payment. He also instructed the PWD and Jal Shakti Vibhag officers to present their department's bills after the 10th of every month as the state receives central taxes on the 10th of every month.
Punjab Govt Launches Massive Recruitment Drive for 1,000 MBBS Medical Officers
Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has announced the recruitment of 1,000 Medical Officers (MBBS) to fill long-standing vacancies in government hospitals and health centres. The move, hailed as the biggest hiring drive in decades, marked a critical step toward strengthening medical infrastructure and ensuring better healthcare delivery across the state. The recruitment process will be conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, with online applications open from April 25 to May 15. Aspirants can apply by logging on to — http://www.bfuhs.ac.in — where all details regarding eligibility, selection criteria, and application procedures are available. The recruitment comes after a strong assurance from the government during a meeting with members of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) on April 17. Health Secretary Kumar Rahul had assured that the recruitment process would begin shortly, and the Cabinet had already cleared the proposal earlier this month. Following approval from the Finance Department, the official notification has now been issued. The PCMSA has welcomed the move, terming it a significant and long-overdue step to strengthen general, emergency, and specialist services in public health institutions.
Two minutes silence observed in memory of victims of Pahalgam terror attack in Himachal
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led the State in paying rich tributes to the person, who lost their lives in Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Two minutes of silence was observed in their memory in the premises of H.P. Secretariat on Friday. Sukhu said, "Today we are observing silence from the Secretariat and all the Deputy Commissioner Offices in the honour of all those persons who were killed in the gruesome terror attack. We also extend our sympathies with the bereaved families and the entire nation shares their sorrow in this dark hour."
Remote sensing can play crucial role in farm sector: Himachal agri minister
Shimla: The remote sensing technology can play a crucial role in effectively addressing the challenges faced by the farm sector, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar said on Friday. He was addressing a training programme organised for agricultural officers at the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun. Kumar said the Himachal Pradesh government has undertaken several innovative initiatives to strengthen the rural economy. The state has launched the Him Krishi Yojana, under which activities have commenced in different clusters in Himachal Pradesh, he added. A provision of Rs 154 crore has been made under the Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Project for the upliftment of farmers, which will promote agricultural mechanisation and the use of modern technology, he said.
Kataria inaugurates 6th edition of ‘Eat Right Food Summit’
Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday inaugurated the sixth edition of the ‘Eat Right Food Summit’ in Chandigarh. The summit was organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in collaboration with the Food Safety Administration and the Department of Health, Chandigarh Administration. In his address, Kataria said, “The Eat Right India movement is a commendable national effort to inspire behavioural change towards healthier food choices. It brings together science, policy, and public engagement in a unique way—raising awareness while driving actionable outcomes. It is heartening to see Chandigarh once again taking a leadership role in advancing health and wellness.” In another event, Kataria inaugurated the 11th edition of the All-Women Artists’ Art Exhibition – 2025, organized by Artscapes at Punjab Kala Bhawan. The exhibition, which runs from April 25 to May 2, highlights the diverse and dynamic contributions of women in visual art from across India and abroad.