Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora today launched a special initiative aimed at further strengthening the school education sector in Sunam constituency by distributing school bags to 5,710 girl students studying in Classes 6 to 12 at Shaheed S. Bhagwan Singh Government Smart School (Girls), Longowal. The initiative aims to provide school bags to all 19,886 students studying in 129 government schools across the constituency. His wife, Sabina Arora, was also present on the occasion.

Aman Arora said that the initiative was being undertaken by his family through the Babu Bhagwan Das Arora Foundation. He said that school bags would also be provided to all the remaining students of the constituency in the coming days.

The Cabinet Minister said that providing basic educational facilities to children belonging to economically weaker and needy families was a collective responsibility of society. He said that the objective of the initiative was not only to provide convenience to students but also to encourage them towards education and boost their confidence.

Aman Arora said that, in order to motivate students to work harder in their studies, meritorious students from Sunam constituency who had achieved success in national-level competitive examinations such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) were specially honoured.

He said that 13 students from the constituency had qualified in NEET/JEE, including eight girl students. Besides, students who secured first, second and third positions in their respective classes were also honoured with certificates and medals.

The Cabinet Minister said that the daughters of Punjab were continuously excelling in the field of education. He said that girls had proved their capabilities in various fields, including medical, non-medical, defence and civil services. He said that the achievements of daughters were a matter of pride for the entire society and that providing them with equal opportunities was the need of the hour.

Responding to a question from the media regarding fee hikes by private schools, Arora said that the Punjab Government had taken legal measures to provide relief to parents from arbitrary fee increases.

He said that, as per the rules, no private school could increase its fees by more than 5 per cent. He said that if any school charged fees beyond the prescribed limit, appropriate action would be taken as per the rules, and steps would also be taken to ensure the refund of any excess amount collected.

He said that the state government was committed to preventing the commercialisation of education and protecting parents from an unnecessary financial burden.

Arora said that the state government was continuously undertaking reforms in the education sector and giving special attention to providing students of government schools with quality education along with the necessary facilities.

He said, “Our aim is to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to financial constraints. Encouraging students of government schools by providing them with quality education and necessary facilities, as well as recognising their achievements, is our priority. Today, students of Punjab’s government schools are performing exceptionally well at the national level, which is a matter of great pride for us.”

Aman Arora said that irrespective of the stream or trade chosen by a student, he would always stand by every student and remain committed to working for their bright future. He said that the government’s objective was to provide every child with opportunities for quality education and thereby lay a strong foundation for their bright future.

Deputy Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Ravjot Grewal, District Education Officer Tarwinder Kaur, along with officers from various departments, prominent citizens, a large number of students and parents, and local residents were present on the occasion.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab today announced the appointment of MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand as election in-charges for the upcoming Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections. The appointments have been made for AAP Student Wing – Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), as the party begins preparations for the upcoming student elections at Panjab University.

AAP Punjab congratulated both leaders on being entrusted with the new responsibility and expressed confidence that their experience and connect with young people would strengthen the party’s student outreach and campaign at the university.

Addressing the media, MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand said that the appointment marks the beginning of preparations for the upcoming PUCSC elections, which are expected to be held next month. He said that the state team of ASAP, along with its senior and former office-bearers, had held a detailed meeting regarding the elections and would work collectively to strengthen the party’s presence among students.

Sukhanand said that AAP has always raised issues concerning education and students’ rights and has consistently worked towards bringing young people into politics. He said Panjab University has a proud and glorious history of producing prominent leaders who have made significant contributions to Punjab and the country.

“Whenever there is a discussion about education, student rights or bringing a new generation of youth into politics, AAP is always on the forefront. We are preparing for these elections with full commitment because we want to ensure that students’ voices are strongly represented,” he said.

Referring to recent student protests across the country, Sukhanand said AAP and its student wing had actively supported students protesting against issues affecting their future, including examination-related concerns and paper leaks. He said that the party’s student activists participated in protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as well as at colleges and universities across the country.

He said that more than 70 paper leaks had raised serious questions over the future of nearly two crore students and said that several students had even lost their lives due to the resulting uncertainty and distress. “These are not merely political issues; they directly affect the future of our young generation,” he said.

Sukhanand also highlighted local issues concerning Panjab University students, including cleanliness, hostel facilities, campus safety and other concerns. Referring to the death of a student due to electrocution near an exposed electrical wire, he said that what may appear to be a small failure of the system can become an unimaginable tragedy for a family.

He said the AAP student wing would raise both national issues affecting students and local campus concerns during the PUCSC elections. He added that ASAP had demonstrated that student protests can bring results, citing the campaign over the Panjab University Senate, following which the Central Government had to announce that Senate elections would be held again.

Amritsar Sukhanand further said that student politics plays an important role in developing future political leadership. He said young leaders who emerge from student politics often have a broader vision, greater understanding of public issues and a stronger passion for working among people.

He said AAP wants to create an environment at Panjab University where students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other regions can emerge as capable and honest political leaders. “We want to produce leaders who, after leaving this university and entering public life, speak for the people and work for them with honesty, dedication and enthusiasm,” he said.

MLA Sukhanand said AAP had challenged the traditional political system that often kept young people away from politics and expressed confidence that the party’s student wing would continue nurturing a new generation of leaders committed to public service.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today said that the sacred Bani of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj carries a timeless message of equality, human dignity, social justice and universal brotherhood, which remains profoundly relevant in contemporary society.

Addressing a state-level seminar on ‘Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj Bani and Social Equality’ organised at Amity University, Mohali, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Guru Ji Maharaj’s teachings transcended the barriers of caste, creed and social status and emphasised the inherent dignity and equality of every human being.”

Speaking about Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj vision of society, he said, “Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj envisioned a society based on equality, justice, compassion and mutual respect. His Bani inspires people to reject discrimination and work towards creating an inclusive society where every individual gets equal opportunities and respect.”

Highlighting the Bhagwant Mann Government’s recent initiative, he stated, “The Punjab Government, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, has recently initiated the setting up of a State-of-the-Art Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Bani Adhyayan Centre at Faridpura Naugaza in Dera Ballan. The centre would be established at a cost of ₹25 crore, apart from approximately ₹11 crore incurred on procurement of land, and would serve as an important centre for research, study and dissemination of the profound teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj.”

Reflecting on the universal and progressive character of Guru Ji Maharaj’s philosophy, the Minister emphasised, “Values such as freedom of expression, equality and non-discrimination, which began gaining institutional recognition in several Western countries from the 19th century onwards, were reflected in the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj and other great ‘sants’ nearly 650 years ago. The egalitarian vision embodied in their teachings was far ahead of its time and continues to guide humanity towards a society based on dignity and equality.”

Emphasising the relevance of Guru Ji Maharaj’s teachings today, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The message of equality given by the great Guru Ji Maharaj remains especially significant in the present era. Freedom of speech is being curtailed in the country by certain political forces in power at the national level, which is contrary to the fundamental message of equality, liberty and human dignity propagated by the great Guru Ji Maharaj.”

Speaking about India’s diversity and social harmony, the Minister asserted, “Although the people of India belong to different faiths, castes and communities and have diversity in colour and culture, the spirit of unity and fraternity among the people would not allow divisive efforts to succeed. I call upon the people, particularly the younger generation, to draw inspiration from the universal teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj and strengthen the bonds of social harmony and equality.”

Elaborating on the concept of ‘Begampura’, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj vision of ‘Begampura’ represents an ideal social order free from discrimination, exploitation and inequality. The principles reflected in Guru Ji Maharaj’s Bani can serve as a guiding force in building a just, peaceful and harmonious society.”

Urging students and scholars to engage more deeply with Guru Ji Maharaj’s teachings, the Minister said, “Students and scholars should study Guru Ji Maharaj’s Bani deeply and understand its contemporary relevance. Academic institutions have a significant role to play in promoting research, dialogue and intellectual engagement with the teachings and philosophy of great spiritual personalities and social reformers.”

The event witnessed insightful addresses by prominent speakers, including Prof. Manjinder Singh, Head of the Department of Punjabi, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, and Sant Kewal Singh Ji of Tap Asthan Sri Guru Ravidas Ji, Khuralgarh. The speakers enlightened the audience on the profound relevance of Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj’s ideals to modern society and their continuing inspiration for efforts aimed at eliminating discrimination and promoting social equality.

Distinguished academic leaders present on the stage included Dr. Puneet Sharma, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Amity University, Mohali, and Dr. Dalip Kumar, Registrar, Amity University, Mohali. Dr. Dalip Kumar delivered the formal vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the government departments, visiting scholars, faculty members and participating students for their contribution to the successful organisation of the seminar.

The occasion was also graced by Damandeep Kaur, SDM, Mohali, and Dr. Manish Sharma, Deputy Director, Department of Higher Education, Punjab, besides faculty members and students of Amity University.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said that the campaign being run on social media by former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh ‘Bhajji’ and other celebrities to defame Punjab was a dirty conspiracy to stab Punjab, Punjab Police and the government in the back.

Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “The same party which had honoured Bhajji and given him a Rajya Sabha seat was the party that he stabbed in the back and then went and sat in the lap of the BJP. Today, these sell-out leaders and celebrities are dancing to the BJP’s tune and blindly making the bundles of lies served by them viral, hatching a dirty conspiracy to stab Punjab, Punjab Police and the government in the back.”

Presenting the facts about the video being circulated on social media, Baltej Pannu said, “The video being circulated on social media by celebrities such as Harbhajan Bhajji and Sonu Sood, claiming it to be from Punjab, is not from Punjab but from Rajasthan. Without knowing any facts, such a bogus video is being posted to defame Punjab merely to garner ‘likes’ and ‘views’.”

Questioning the silence of these leaders and celebrities on drug seizures elsewhere, Baltej Pannu said, “Why did these leaders and celebrities remain silent when news emerged about thousands of kilograms of drugs seized from Mundra Port in Gujarat, regarding which reports had stated that the drugs were eaten by rats? Drugs are a global problem today, against which actions such as the FBI’s ‘Operation Hardball’ are also being carried out, but in Punjab, the state is being targeted by falling prey to the BJP’s tactics.”

Highlighting the action being taken against drugs in Punjab, he said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the war against drugs is being fought on the ground through ‘Village Defence Committees’ under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign. Anti-drone systems have been installed along the borders and ordinary people are sending information directly to the DGP (Director General of Police) and the Chief Minister through the Direct App.”

Sharing the performance figures of the Punjab Police, Baltej Pannu said, “From March 1, 2025, to August 9, 2026, the Punjab Police registered 56,267 cases and named 75,552 accused. In addition, 3,575 kg of heroin, 509 kg of smack, 880 kg of opium, 43,271 kg of poppy husk (doda), and more than 95 kg of charas were seized, while drug money amounting to ₹21 crore 71 lakh 267 was confiscated.”

Speaking about the origins of the drug menace in Punjab, the AAP Punjab Media In-charge pointed out, “The drug menace in Punjab had begun during the previous governments between 2007 and 2017, which destroyed an entire generation. Today, due to the efforts of the Mann government, youth have been turned towards sports. The captain of the Indian men’s cricket team, the captain of the women’s cricket team, and nine players of the Indian hockey team are young people from Punjab.”

Addressing Harbhajan Singh, Baltej Pannu asked, “What contribution have you yourself made, as a sportsperson, towards connecting the children of Punjab with sports?”

Lauding the people of Punjab, the Punjab Police and the warriors of the Village Defence Committees, Baltej Pannu said, “The government and the people of Punjab are standing firmly united in this campaign. We strongly condemn such false conspiracies being hatched by Bhajji and others to defame Punjab.”