Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said renaming Veer Bal Diwas as Sahibzadon's Sacrifice Day would be a more genuine and respectful way to honour the unmatched martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s younger Sahibzadas.
Arora said the supreme sacrifice made by the Sahibzadas at a very young age continues to inspire people across the world. He stressed that changing the name is necessary to respect the religious sentiments of the Sikh and Punjabi community. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP MPs have already flagged concerns over the existing name and backed the demand for renaming.
Highlighting the Punjab government’s focus on child welfare, Arora said the protection of orphaned and dependent children remains a key priority of the Mann government. He said more than Rs 314 crore has been disbursed so far as financial assistance, providing continued support to around 2.37 lakh children across the state.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur said the welfare of children is the Mann government’s top priority. She added that these efforts reflect the government’s strong commitment to ensuring every child has a safe, dignified and hopeful future.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Police continued its crackdown under the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, which completed 300 days on Wednesday. On the 300th day alone, police carried out raids at 327 locations, registered 63 FIRs, arrested 84 drug smugglers, and seized 2.8 kg of heroin and other narcotics. Since the campaign began, a total of 41,881 drug traffickers have been arrested. The government is following a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction and prevention.
In another major development, Jail Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said 2025 has marked a year of reform and change for the Punjab Jail Department. He said prisons across the state have been upgraded with a focus on cleanliness, green spaces and the use of modern technology. An investment of Rs 126 crore has been made to install AI-based CCTV cameras, X-ray baggage scanners and jammers to strengthen security.
Bhullar also said work is underway on a new high-security jail in Ludhiana at a cost of Rs 100 crore. To support rehabilitation of inmates, ITI courses have been introduced in 11 jails, while nine prisoner-run petrol pumps are already operational, with three more expected to start soon.
The Punjab government said these initiatives together reflect its commitment to social reform, public safety and inclusive development across the state.
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