Bajwa’s fiery speech versus real fire
As Pratap Singh Bajwa started his “fiery” speech, after formally taking the charges as the new president of Punjab Congress, a Doordarshan Outdoor Broadcasting van covering the event went into flames.
As the photographers present on the occasion rushed to capture the van on fire, the newly elected president took the occasion among the whole hullabaloo to use by saying that this is a minor fire, but soon the whole Punjab will be engrossed in a wild fire demanding change of the Akali Government. But the broadcasting channel missed the laugh.
DC office's major goof-up
The office of UT Deputy Commissioner seems to be living in the past. Even as the current Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammed Shayin took over last year, former UT DC Brijendra Singh still is in-charge of the position if the orders of the DC office are to be believed. In a major goof–up this week, several routine orders were issued in the name of Brijendra Singh instead of Mohammad Shayin by the Deputy Commissioner office. Call it negligence or sheer laziness, the DC office issued the orders without perhaps going through the text.
Apple of eye
The Apple products in the United States and its iconic product, I-Phone has an unpaid brand ambassador in the Punjab Government. Working at a senior level in the public relations department, the official has taken upon himself the task of promoting I-Phones. There's no escaping. Meet him in the secretariat or the Assembly, his unsolicited suggestion is ‘buy an I-Phone'. Many reporters want to tell him to keep his suggestion to himself given the prohibitive cost of the device. But then, who will bell the catIJ
Raja becomes a ‘reporter’ of Vidhan Sabha
Budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly is witnessing several new things apart from the usual stuff of walkouts and speeches. An independent MlA who is also a Raja, is seen working overtime at the desk of reporters in the Assembly before the start of proceedings of the day. After noting several points from the answers given on the reporters’ desk, he tears some pages from the answer books. This had led to a buzz among Vidhan Sabha reporters who mockingly say, ‘reporter at work’.
Forestminister seeks demo for all
Assembly proceeding is undoubtedly a serious business. But it is not entirely bereft of some amusement. Amid sloganeering and heated arguments between the Opposition and the Treasury benches, there could be scenes which bring smiles on the lips of the legislators and all those present in the House. Unable to satisfy the members in Zero Hour over the question on rare herbs, the Forest Minister who hails from tribal area of Chamba district said “I myself don’t know about the herb but I have heard it is a kind of plant which is used in medicines to give strength.” The Speaker objected and wanted to know what the plants look like, forcing the minister to say that he would request the forest officials to give a demo of the herb in the house. That is the forest minister of Himachal Pradesh.
(Contributed by Nitindra Bandyopadhyay, Nishu Mahajan, Monika Malik and Manohar lal)