Back to business
After a prolonged holiday abroad in which he missed a lot of action back home, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is back in action mode. He is holding one meeting after the other to announce to the world that he is in business again. The junior Badal could not attend the rally of BJP’s campaign committee chief and probable prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Madhopur of Pathankot district last month. He also was not present when thousands of Punjabis were trapped in Uttarakhand after the rains. “He was monitoring all the developments from there,” an official added.
Good and Bad
Being geographically close to Delhi is both good and bad for the State if you believe Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. While the overall development of the State gets momentum but it also enables the detractors to approach Delhi frequently, Hooda said in a lighter vein during the first visit of Shakeel Ahmad in-charge of State Congress. Hooda added that “Chugalkhoron ko aur koi kaam nahi hai siwai chugli karne ke, delhi ke nazdeek hone ka phaida we bhi bharpoor utha rahe hain” and smiled. Everyone knew who he was referring to.
Phool Chand’s Gali Naali Ke Chunav!
Before the Municipal polls, Haryana Congress president Phool Chand Mullana belittled the polls and pronounced the elections as “Gali Naali Ke Chunav” and now after getting the positive results, started patting his back by saying that the results of elections proved that people still prefer Congress Party and its ideology, rather than INlD or BJP in the state. Though Congress did not contest the elections on its party symbol, it is claiming that its workers won a majority of the seats.
Goof up
When two political rivals come face to face, something or the other is supposed to happen. While presiding over a function at the PGI, all the stalwarts of Congress were seen greeting each other. But suddenly a hustle bustle was created on the stage as Punjab Chief Minister reached the spot and a goof up was created as adequate sitting arrangements were not made which clearly indicated that something was unexpected. However, soon this was solved but both the Akali and the Congress CM of the neighbouring States were seen sitting in opposite corners sharing the same dais in the same capital.
Political wisecrack
Excellent comic timing has its own charm. Same happened when Union Health and Family Welfare Minister took a dig at the people sharing the dais with him at PGI’s 51st foundation day. Azad in a humorous tone said, “The programme today is special because all who are sharing the stage might not come together again because next convocation will be after the 2014 lok Sabha elections.” Punjab CM who was present there passed a smile at this but didn’t anticipate what was coming next. Azad further added, “I am not sure who will be present for the centenary foundation day celebration of this institute because not all are going to stay lucky.” The whole auditorium burst into laughter hearing this and the Punjab CM also shared the mirth of the retinue.
Abdullah’s driving skills praised
A blue land Rover was the cynosure of all eyes at the formal inauguration of “Chandigarh solar city project”. For, the car was driven by none other than its owner Union Minister MNRE Farooq Abdhullah, who was the chief guest on the occasion. The septuagenarian Abdhullah surprised one and all when he arrived at two different places on the driver’s seat showing his driving skills. He drove on the City Beautiful roads attracting everyone’s eyes during his three hours visit to the city. From Adviser to Administrator, who was sitting next to him to other senior officials, everyone sung praises of his driving skills.
Dress like MlA not like a student
A first time MlA got some candid advice from a senior Himachal Pradesh minister about his dressing sense. The young MlA, dressed in formals, when came in front of the minister in the presence of officials, no one was able to recognize him and the senior minister had to introduce him. The Minister, however, could not resist himself from giving him the candid advice. He even asked him to do some media briefing, so that people know he is an MlA and do not treat him as a university student.
Gag order for top bureaucrats
When Raja Saheb Virbhadra Singh is in mood, everyone should stay in his limits. A top bureaucrat was taught a lesson in a hard way when he gave some statements in media about the appointment of a top cop from Punjab. The report caused embarrassment to the State Government which was moving in a secret manner for the appointment. The Chief Minister had to deny such a move. When, the matter was brought in the notice of Chief Minister, he gave a strict warning to the top bureaucrats to restrain themselves in confidential matters and speak less to the media. Now, the phones of top babus keep buzzing and in the end, it’s no reply.
(Contributed by Bhupinder Sharma, Nitindra Bandyopadhyay,
Nishu Mahajan and Manohar lal)