Politicians’ pearls of wisdom
Punjab politicians, it seems, are turning into scholars. They have been dropping pearls of wisdom and sound as if a Daniel has come to judgement in their political speeches. Until recently, politicians like Sirmanjit Singh Mann would refer to international events and quote extensively from the literature. But now, so many other politicians are following their footsteps, literally. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal only recently took help of literature to attack Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the 2G scam. “Whole world is watching keenly that how India investigates this biggest economic scam in the world. Prime Minister like Ceasar’s wife must be above suspicion,” he said. Continuing with his strategy of comparing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir with dictators and despots such as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa added Nero to the list saying that the Badals were playing fiddle, while Punjab was burning. launching a scathing attack on the Badals for holding the “Chintan Shivir” on the beaches of Goa, Bajwa said: “Nero played the fiddle as Rome burned. Sukhbir will be holidaying in Goa on the pretext of the 'chintan shivir'. let him first put his house in order”.
Public missing at UT Public Hearing Session
After UT Administrator Shivraj Patil did not care to attend the Public Hearing Sessions in the past, now it’s the turn of general public to do the same. There is hardly any public seen in the much-hyped Public Hearing Sessions now. Even as Patil and a brigade of senior UT officials wait for the public every first and third Monday of a month during the session, only few complainants care to turn up now. Much to the chagrin of Patil and UT officials, only four complainants had turned up in last two consecutive sessions.
Failed thrice, UT turns to Centre
Even as improving public transport is on the agenda list of UT Administration, good luck is apparently not on its side. Trying hard to purchase buses for the city, the UT has failed thrice to elicit a good response from private companies. Now, tired of its repetitive failures, the UT has turned to Union Ministry to deal with the private companies for purchasing the buses. Surprisingly, UT has urged the Centre to execute the task which the former failed to accomplish in one year.
law is the puppet of the powerful
Two incidents that took place on the same day may leave people thinking about law and order in the City Beautiful. In one incident, an auto-rickshaw driver was thrashed because he took time in letting a car overtake it. The driver called the PCR but help never arrived. In another incident, in Sector-26, a man too drunk to walk suddenly got annoyed on a street side vendor for no reason. Using his influence the drunkard called the SHO and in no time the policemen were there to reason it out with the poor vendor. This makes one think how equality before law serves in the land of the powerful.
Designer ministers
The new Government in the hill State of Himachal Pradesh has a mix of young and experienced look. But what has caught the fancy of many is the designer suits which many Ministers are wearing in the ongoing Budget Session. Young Ministers like Mukesh Agnihotri and Sudhir Sharma are found draped in designer clothing elegantly stitched in Delhi. So is the case of young Chief Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharti. Flamboyant senior minister GS Balli’s love for designer clothing and imported watches is not hidden from anyone.
Witty minister
It is said that some get wittier with experiences and so is the case with Himachal Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri. Every time he stands to answer a question which eventually leads to a number of supplementaries, Bharmouri with his wit and experience handles it all much t the amusement of chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Bharmouri’s wit and humour is making entire house burst into laughter and he is being lauded for handling volley of questions effectively.
Jai Ho in assembly
The otherwise tense, HP Vidhan Sabha at least sees a moment of laughter whenever Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail enters the House and his marshal makes a high pitched announcement of his arrival. As soon as the Speaker enters the House, he bows towards the Opposition and then towards ruling benches in break of the earlier tradition of first wishing the ruling side and then Opposition. But what has caught the imagination of the legislators is that the Speaker instead of Namaste, says Jai Ho to which the entire House reciprocates with Jai Ho with folded hands.
(Contributed by Monika Malik, Nishu Mahajan, Nitindra Bandyopadhyay and Manohar lal)