Bains Gets 'Tankhah'; Panjab’s Capital Expenditure is Lowest Among Major States

Panjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) on 6 Aug. AT had summoned Bains for organizing 'entertainment performances,' involving dance and music, at a program held in Srinagar on 24 Jul to mark the 350^th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teghbahadar, the ninth Sovereign. The Punjab Language Department had organized the event held at Tagore Hall in Srinagar. Bains apologized for the Srinagar event, which was seen as a 'deep affront to Sikh sentiments'. The AT ordered tankhah (salary, implying punishment) by asking him to visit Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal and Gurdwara Kotha Sahib (Patshahi Nauvin) in Amritsar and Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib, and to oversee repair of roads and development works in the surrounding infrastructure. Bains will then offer prayers at the martyrdom site of Guru Teghbahadar at Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi and proceed to Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Anandpur Sahib where he will participate in service at the jora ghar (shoe house) for two days. Upon completion, he will make an offering of USD 12 and perform ardas (prayer). This is the first time the punishment of social work has been imposed on a member of the Panjab government by the Sikh authorities. Meanwhile, despite a 38% increase in capital outlay in 2024-25, Panjab has the lowest capital expenditure among the major states in India. Panjab has allocated USD 1.18B for capital expenditure in 2025-26, up from USD 858.7M in 2024-25. Concurrently, speaking on Panjab's Bill Liao Inam Pao (Bring Bill, Take Award) scheme, state Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said since its inception, 176K bills have been uploaded and 5,644 winners have received a total of USD 376K in prize money. Penalties worth USD 1046K were imposed on entities found guilty of irregularities in issuing bills to consumers. USD 841K has already been recovered. In other news, On 11 Aug, nearly 15K Punjab Power Corporation employees started a 3-day strike over pending demands (earlier coverage).