CAPT AMARINDER HAILS CONGRESS VICTORY IN 3 STATES AS MANDATE FOR RAHUL, BEGINNING OF END OF MODI RULE

Chandigarh, December 11, 2018: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has hailed the Congress victory in three states as a mandate for the leadership of party president Rahul Gandhi and said it marked the beginning of the end of the BJP-led NDA government in the country.
Reacting to the Assembly poll results declared today, the Chief Minister said the Congress performance showed that the party was on an upswing across the country. The results has clearly shown that the people of India were now fed up of the destructive and anti-development policies of the Narendra Modi government and wanted a positive change.
Congratulating the party president, as well as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, for the Congress win in three states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Captain Amarinder Singh said the party had clearly revived under the dynamic leadership of Rahul.
The results were a sign of the mood of the nation, which saw in Rahul the youthful change it needed to bring India back on the track of development, which had been the hallmark of the previous UPA regime under former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The people of India felt cheated by the failure of the Modi government to deliver on any of its promises made five years ago, he said, adding that, at the same time, they were desperate to see an end to the vicious cycle of communal hatred and violence unleashed by the BJP-led regime.
It is a moment of celebration not just for the Congress but also for the people of this country, said the Chief Minister.

PUNJAB CABINET APPROVES PRISONERS’ PAROLE ENHANCEMENT FROM 12 TO 16 WEEKS IN CALENDAR YEAR TO MARK 550TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI
Chandigarh: To mark the year-long celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Punjab Cabinet has given the nod to amend Section 3 Sub Section 2 of the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962 to increase the regular parole given to the prisoners with good conduct from the existing 3 weeks to 4 weeks, and total parole from 12 weeks to 16 weeks during a calendar year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, here on Tuesday.
The cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of the bill in this regard in the ensuing session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that this step was aimed at ensuring the welfare of prisoners with good conduct by giving them continuous parole of 16 weeks.
This initiative would also encourage other prisoners to maintain discipline in jails.
Notably, in view of good behavior and discipline amongst prisoners in different jails of the state, they are temporarily released on parole as specified in the provisions of Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962. A 15-day parole is granted to prisoners on the death of any of their family members. There is a provision of granting 120 days parole to a female prisoner on account of delivery of her child. Apart from this, six weeks parole is given to the prisoners for marriage of children, agricultural purpose, serious damage to life or property of the member of the family caused by natural calamity and for critical condition of any member of the family on account of accident and on account of delivery of child by his wife. This parole would now be given maximum up to 16 weeks during a calendar year and shall be availed on quarterly basis.
In another decision, the Cabinet also gave its nod to introduce the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance-2018 in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session beginning from December 13.
It may be recalled that the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 was promulgated on October 23, 2018 in order to simplify the process of filing returns and payment of tax with minimum paperwork. As per clause 2 of Article of 213 of the Constitution, an Ordinance shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of State for conversion of the Ordinance into Act.

CAPT AMARINDER EXHORTS PEOPLE TO EMULATE IDEALS OF SRI GURU TEG BAHADUR
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has exhorted the people to uphold and emulate the high ideals of secularism and humanitarianism embodied by the Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
In a message on the martyrdom day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, the Chief Minister urged people to imbibe the spirit of self-sacrifice preached and practiced by ‘Hind Di Chaadar’, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, who laid down his life to safeguard the freedom of worship, besides upholding the human and secular values.
The Bani of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, which is included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, preaches the message of oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, righteousness, valour and compassion, which need to be followed by one and all, said the Chief Minister.
Guru ji’s supreme sacrifice as protector of Dharma was unparalleled in the history of mankind and stands out as an example for humanity, he added.