Chandigarh, June 24 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday, led the Vidhan Sabha, in paying tribute to eminent personalities, freedom fighters, political personalities and noted Punjab singer Sidhu Moosewala, all who had passed away since the last session of the Assembly.
On the first day of Budget session, the House paid respects to former ministers Hardipinder Singh Badal and Jathedar Tota Singh, besides formers MLAs -- Sukhdev Singh Sukhladhi and Shingara Ram Sahungra.
The House also paid tribute to freedom fighters Tara Singh, Swarn Singh, Crora Singh and Sukhraj Singh Sandhawalia, who played a pivotal role in emancipating the country from the clutches of British imperialism.
Meanwhile, the House also paid homage to mountaineer and Arjun awardee Gurcharan Singh Bhangu, who was bestowed this prestigious award in 1965 for climbing the Mount Everest, and athlete Hari Chand, also an Arjun awardee, who brought laurels to the country in field of athletics.
The House also paid tributes to the famous Punjabi Singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, alias Sidhu Moosewala, who had carved a niche for himself in the vast field of music and entertainment.
The legislative assembly also paid homage to eminent Sikh personality Principal Surinder Singh.
A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect during the obituary references.
The appeal was made by Modi, while making a statement following talks with the Danish Prime Minister in Copenhagen, where he reached on the second leg of his three-nation European tour.
Speaking at a meeting of the PLC candidates who contested the recent Assembly elections in Punjab, he said given the geopolitical situation previaling in the world in view of the Russia-Ukraine war, the country needs a stable, mature and strong leadership, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is providing.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also argued that the mercy petition cannot be decided until the appeals filed by other convicts in the case before the apex court are not disposed of. Also, Rajoana has not challenged his conviction or sentence, either before the high court or the Supreme Court
Earlier, four persons, including two Afghanistan nationals, were arrested by the NCB. The fifth accused Shamim Ahmad was arrested from from Laxmi Nagar. A person called Shahid controlled the hawala racket of Dubai. Seeing that Shamim had good links with middlemen working in Dubai, Shahid included him in his gang.
Conceding the proposal of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to introduce home delivery of atta under National Food Security Act (NFSA), the entire state has been divided into eight zones and the service will commence in one zone in the first phase, in two zones in the second phase, and in the remaining five zones in the last and third phase.
A decision to this effect was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said the posts belong to Group A, B and C. Major departments include Home Affairs, School Education, Health, Power and Technical Education.
