Chandigarh, June 24 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced a Bhagat Kabir Chair in Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar and Rs 10 crore for the development of Bhagat Kabir Bhawan in Jalandhar.
On the occasion of Bhagat Kabir Ji Jayanti, the Chief Minister also announced that his government will soon disburse Rs 560 crore to the landless farm labourers under the Debt Waiver Scheme.
Virtually paying respects to the 15th-century mystic poet and saint Bhagat Kabir, the Chief Minister said the Chair to commemorate Sant Kabir will undertake research on the life and philosophy of the great mystic poet.
The Bhagat Kabir Bhawan, he said, will be built over a 0.77 acre area, of which 13,000 sq.ft. covered area would house a community hall with seating capacity of 500.
Of the Rs 10 crore, Rs 3 crore would be spent on construction and Rs 7 crore towards the land cost, he added.
Joining the people of Punjab in paying respects to saint Bhagat Kabir at state-level celebrations, the Chief Minister exhorted them to follow his teachings in earnest so as to carve out an egalitarian society rising above the parochial considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.
The Chief Minister spoke about the life and teachings of Bhagat Kabir Ji, citing the eternal message of love, peace, harmony contained in his Bani, which is part of Guru Granth Sahib.
The Chief Minister listed the various welfare schemes for the underprivileged being carried out by his government in line with Bhagat Kabira¿s philosophy.
Referring to the Post Matric SC Scholarship scheme, Amarinder Singh said the state government had released 100 per cent scholarship funds during 2020-21 and had also amicably resolved the issue of pending payments with private colleges, which had been clearly told not to withhold the roll number of any student.
Slamming the Centre for abruptly withdrawing from the scheme, thus jeopardizing the future of our students, the Chief Minister said the state government had launched Dr B.R. Ambedkar Post Matric Scholarship scheme to bail out the students left in the lurch by the Centre's decision, forcing the Government of India to also restore the scheme.
Though the state had paid its 40 per cent share, the Central government was yet to release its funds, he added.
Custom officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here have seized 80 iPhones from two passengers arriving from Sharjah. They found the iPhones worth over Rs 1 crore while checking the luggage of the two passengers who had arrived by flight G9-458 on Wednesday.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to operate the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport in the adjoining Thane-Raigad region, an official said here.
The session ensued a detailed discussion about the rising air pollution as well as the steps that need to be taken up by authorities as well as the community to manage the deteriorating air quality.
After Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met the party panel on the state in the national capital on Tuesday, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has stepped in to defuse the tension in the state unit. Gandhi has given utmost importance to the state, meeting stake holders who have sought time from him, said sources.
The Delhi police have arrested two men for breaking into a bank in Shahdara area and fleeing with nearly Rs 55 lakh, officials said. Police have also recovered hammer, chisel, and helmets from their possession.
The induction ceremony was held in the holy city of Amritsar, some 300 km from the state capital, where Kejriwal came on a day-long visit.After joining the politics, Kunwar Vijay Pratap blamed the accused of the sacrilege case for dictating the state government.
