Latest news with #non-Punjabis
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Oppn unites against govt's move to appoint CS as devp board chief
1 2 Chandigarh: Reacting sharply to the Punjab council of ministers' nod on Saturday to appoint the chief secretary as the chairperson of all urban development authorities, opposition parties in Punjab, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the AAP-led govt in the state, strongly condemning the move. Leader of the opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said chief minister Bhagwant Mann had "mortgaged Punjab's authority to Delhi's whims". In a post on X, the Congress leader said chief secretaries "take orders from the Punjab Development Commission controlled by Delhiwalas, reducing the elected chief minister of Punjab to a mere puppet". "This is a de facto coup of Punjab's democratic mandate," he said. Congress MLA from Bholath and chairman of the All India Kisan Congress, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said the decision "effectively sidelines the elected chief minister and hands over critical governance functions to a bureaucrat". Khaira, in a statement, mentioned: "For the first time in 75 years of India's Independence, an elected leader, chief minister Bhagwant Mann, was replaced by a bureaucrat in such a vital role." Referring to Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema's statement that the move was necessitated due to the "busy schedule" of the CM, Khaira said it was a "flimsy excuse to mask Kejriwal's growing control over Punjab's governance". "This is not about schedules; this is about power. Kejriwal's takeover of Punjab is now complete, with Mann's authority systematically dismantled," he said. Khaira vowed to take the issue to the assembly, and if necessary, to the courts. "Punjab deserves transparent, accountable, and democratic governance, and we will not rest until that is restored," he said. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a post on X, said by appointing the chief secretary as the chairman of all the urban planning and development authorities in Punjab, including PUDA, GMADA, GLADA, JDA, BDA, ADA, PDA, and others, CM Mann's "meek and unabashed surrender" to Arvind Kejriwal "is now complete". "He (Bhagwant Mann) has handed over control of Punjab's lands and development funds to his Delhi boss through a bureaucrat, who is a close aide of Kejriwal," Badal said. He said the move was "designed to hand over Punjab's entire wealth to looters, as it comes on the eve of the AAP govt's plan to acquire thousands of acres of Punjab's land, including 24,000 acres in Ludhiana alone". "This move is also final proof that Punjab is now being directly controlled by non-Punjabis, and even the pretence of ruling through Bhagwant Mann has ended. It is common knowledge that Punjab bureaucrats report directly to Kejriwal and his non-Punjabi associates," Sukhbir said. Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said Mann had now officially handed over all development bodies to the chief secretary. "First, the Punjab Development Commission was snatched away from the CM and handed to the chief secretary and he further handed it over to the AAP Delhi nominees! Now, even Punjab's development authorities have been taken away from the CM and given to the chief secretary," Baliawal posted on X. "They've been installed to drain Punjab's resources for Kejriwal's empire in Delhi. The next step clearly seems to be putting these outsiders in control of the development authorities as well," Baliawal said while pointing out the AAP govt's earlier move of handing over of the Development Commission to the "outsiders with absolutely no roots in Punjab". Punjab Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said AAP had been blatantly trying to weaken the institution of the chief minister by replacing him with an in-service bureaucrat to head various development boards, which will make them completely unaccountable to the public. In a written statement, Warring added, "Being in opposition we do have numerous differences with the chief minister on various issues, but we do not approve undermining and taking away his authority. After all, he is the elected head of the govt, chosen by people of Punjab, while the chief secretary is only 'an appointed official'." BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh called it an open assault on democratic governance and an insult to Punjab's elected leadership. "Will chief minister Bhagwant Mann and his cabinet now report to a bureaucrat? Has Punjab's cabinet been reduced to a puppet show run by Kejriwal's inner circle?" he said. BOX Govt calls it 'bold reform' The opposition parties' condemnation of the Punjab cabinet nod to appoint chief secretary as the chairperson of all urban development authorities stems from the fact that the post had been till now held by the chief minister of Punjab. The amendment proposed in the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act seeks to replace the CM with the chief secretary as chairperson of all urban development authorities. The govt, on the other hand, terms it as a "bold reform" aimed at "strengthening decentralised governance, speeding up decision making, and empowering the administrative setup to act swiftly on ground-level issues". The govt's statement said: "Previously, these authorities had inconsistent structures, Now, the cabinet has approved a uniform framework across all eight authorities with deputy commissioners and municipal commissioners included as members – ensuring that local matters are resolved efficiently at the authority level itself."
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab LoP Bajwa calls Bhagwant Mann ‘figurehead CM'; alleges Kejriwal runs Punjab via Delhi-based appointees
CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been reduced to a mere figurehead while AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal acts as the 'super CM,' controlling key decisions and appointments in the state. Bajwa accused the government of filling top positions in the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) with individuals from outside Punjab, many of whom are allegedly close to AAP's Delhi leadership. He said the PDC was formed in September 2023 through a notification under the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act, without bringing a new Act before the Assembly for debate and approval. He criticised the government for bypassing legislative procedures and acting in a non-transparent manner. In March 2024, the PDC advertised and appointed eight Advisors at Rs 2.65 lakh per month, 15 Joint Advisors at Rs 2.20 lakh per month, and 15 Senior Research Officers at Rs 1.25 lakh per month. Bajwa claimed that most of these officials were non-Punjabis and were hired on a contractual basis without adhering to the mandatory requirement of Punjabi language proficiency. He pointed out that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is the Chairman of the PDC, the Vice Chairperson is a non-Punjabi, and three other members also belong to states outside Punjab. 'This is a direct insult to the youth and professionals of Punjab who are being ignored in their own state,' Bajwa said.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab won't allow outsiders to govern state: Bharat Bhushan Ashu
Times News Network Ludhiana: Punjab Congress working president and the party's bypoll candidate, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, on Friday said that the bypoll was a battle of Punjabis against non-Punjabis, who after looting and robbing Punjab's resources, were trying to usurp political power. "We are all fighting for Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat", he remarked, asserting that there was complete unanimity in this election that no non-Punjabi will be allowed to usurp Punjab's political authority. "At stake is the Punjabi 'anakh', the self respect, that Arvind Kejriwal has repeatedly hurt", Ashu said, while addressing a public meeting. The senior Congress leader alleged that Kejriwal has hurt the prestige of Punjabis by imposing people from Delhi on them. "I have no issues with anyone, including AAP workers or leaders who are from Punjab," he said, adding, "Punjabis gave them the mandate in 2022 and I respect it. " However, he added that Punjabis did not give their mandate "for people from Delhi to rule over them." He said, "none of the local AAP workers, leaders, legislators and most of the ministers, have any say in the government and administration. They cannot get even a junior official transferred as that also is directed from Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo So much so, they cannot even appoint their own PAs and OSDs and these are also thrust from Delhi. " Even now, Ashu added, Kejriwal is aiming at snatching away a Rajya Sabha seat from the Punjabis to grab it himself and go to the Rajya Sabha. "Why should the Punjabis allow that?" he asked, disclosing that AAP supporters have been telling him how suffocated and hurt they feel. "Ludhiana West bypoll will mark the beginning of the end of Delhi leaders' authoritarian rule over Punjab", he said, observing, "The results on June 23 will force AAP to undertake course correction and the party will stop thrusting outsiders on Punjabis." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
New Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lop Partap Singh slams AAP of sidelining Punjabis, calls Sugarfed recruitment policy deceitful
CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress leader and opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday slammed the AAP government in Punjab, accusing it of a 'deliberate and deceitful attempt' to sideline the Punjabi language and deprive local youth of job opportunities in the recruitment for 166 posts in Sugarfed Punjab. Bajwa claimed that the AAP government initially attempted to dilute the requirement of Punjabi language proficiency by allowing candidates who hadn't passed Punjabi in Matric to appear for the examination, on the condition that they clear a basic Punjabi test during their three-year probation. "It was a clear attempt to recruit non-Punjabis by stealth. Only after a massive public outcry and media backlash did the government take a panicked U-turn and declare Punjabi compulsory again. This is not governance, it's deceit,' Bajwa said. He accused the AAP government of trying to sneak in policies that betray Punjab's linguistic and cultural ethos, only to reverse course when caught red-handed. 'This pattern has become a hallmark of the AAP regime, quietly undermining Punjab's interests, then staging a course correction to save face,' Bajwa stated.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab government not to purchase banned Pusa 44 variety of paddy: Chief minister Bhagwant Mann
Patiala: Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the state govt would not purchase the water-guzzling paddy variety Pusa 44, which had been banned by the govt. He said anyone sowing this variety would do so at their own risk. Replying to media queries on Wednesday, Mann said the govt had already declared that farmers could go ahead with short-term varieties, including PR 126, 127, 128, or PR 129. However, Pusa will not be purchased as it takes 152 days, and if anyone is sowing the banned water-guzzling variety, they will be responsible for it, he added. There are reports that some farmers are preparing their nursery to sow the long-duration Pusa 44 variety after obtaining seeds from the neighbouring state of Haryana, said Mann. Replying to a query on the political outcry over the appointment of non-Punjabis as chairpersons of various boards, Mann condemned former deputy CM and Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying that during their rule, the SAD appointed the Punjabi University VC from Delhi. "Punjabiyat is our mission. The opposition leaders are even making false propaganda that residents from Haryana are getting jobs in Punjab, but we are giving jobs to Punjabis and have made the Punjabi written test compulsory for govt jobs. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 빠진 치아 있다면? 1개도 10개도 개당 33만원에 임플란트 해드려요 플란치과 더 알아보기 Undo Sometimes, we have to bring 'specialists' from other states. Our specialists from Punjab are working in other states. Four Punjabis have become ministers in foreign nations," the CM highlighted. Earlier, Mann addressed a gathering after reviewing ongoing development works in Ghanouri Kalan, Ghanour Khurd, Kataron, and Changali villages. He said various govt departments were working in coordination with each other for the welfare of the rural population. Mann said Punjab lived in its villages and that the ultimate goal of a progressive and vibrant Punjab could only be achieved through clean and green villages. He said the state govt had already placed major emphasis on achieving this goal. "Dhuri will be developed as a model city through holistic development, backed by adequate funding. The city will soon be equipped with world-class healthcare and educational facilities, improved roads, clean ponds, water recharging systems, and canal water irrigation. Significant resources have already been allocated to ensure the comprehensive development of villages in the segment. There is no shortage of funds for development, and the state govt is making all possible efforts to ensure the holistic progress of villages," said the CM. "A detailed roadmap has been drafted to boost ongoing development efforts in both urban and rural areas. In addition to development, efforts are being made to place the state on a path of high economic growth for the benefit of its people," he added. The CM revealed that a total of Rs 13.98 crore had been issued for 129 development projects in these panchayats, out of which 93 projects worth Rs 8.67 crore had been completed. He further said 36 projects worth Rs 5.31 crore were currently in progress and would be completed soon. Furthermore, based on the needs of the five village panchayats, an additional grant of Rs 12.19 crore had been issued for 32 more development projects, said Mann. MSID:: 121320317 413 |
