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Balbir Punj | |
|---|---|
| FormerMember of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 2000–2006 | |
| Constituency | Uttar Pradesh |
| In office 2008–2014 | |
| Constituency | Odisha |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1949-10-02)2 October 1949 (age 76) |
| Party | BJP |
| Spouse | Shashibala Punj |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Noida |
| Website | https://balbirpunj.in/ |
As of 22 November, 2010 Source:[1] | |
Balbir Punj is a journalist and columnist fromIndia who has written on events in Hindi-English newspapers and magazines since the early 1990s.[1] He specializes in writing about social, economic, and political issues.
Punj started his career in journalism for the publication Motherland in 1971. He worked for Financial Express from 1974 to 1996. He then worked for The Observer of Business and Politics (a business daily published from Delhi and Mumbai) as an Executive Editor from May 1996 to March 2000. He was also chairman of theIIMC, a Southeast Asian media training organization, for two years until March 2000. Punj also participated in the Delhi Journalists Association, where he served as President for two consecutive terms between 1989 and 1991. In 1993–95, Punj worked as the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). He was chairman of the National Commission for Youth.[2] He was also a member of the Delhi Finance Commission established by the thenDelhi Government in 1996–97. On May 18, 2022, Balbir Punj was conferred the Lifelong Devrishi Narad Samman Award.[3]
Punj has written columns in the National English & Hindi Daily and Indian weekly magazine. Currently, he writes a regular column for the daily newspaperPunjab Kesari,Dainik Jagran,Amar Ujala and a bunch of other regional papers. In English dailies, He occasionally writes forHindustan Times,[4][5][6]The Indian Express[7] and "ThePrint"[8] Until some time ago, balbir punj was also writing for years in “The New Indian Express”,[9]Asian Age,[10] Mail Today (India Today),[11] andOutlook.[12]
Punj is a columnist and an active political worker. He was a former member ofRajya Sabha for two terms. He wasBharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, Balbir Punj was again elected a member of Rajya Sabha from Odisha and retired in 2014. He was the convener of the Intellectual Cell of the BJP for a decade, helping the party chart its ideological course. He was also chairman of the National Commission for Youth (Minister of State status).[13] On 31 March 2013, he was promoted as one of the Vice Presidents of theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[14] Punj has served BJP party as its national secretary, and as in charge of several states, includingGujarat,Punjab,Kerala andHimachal Pradesh. Member of BJP's National Executive from 2000 to 2014. He is a board member (Non-Official) ofBishweshwar Prasad Koirala India-Nepal Foundation (BPKF) underMinistry of External Affairs, India since July 2017.[15][16] He is described as a close associate of theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.[17] Punj can be seen on news channels debating issues.