Cong’s Punjab lesson: Set store by local stalwarts

The spectacular sweep by the Congress in the civic polls in all three regions of Punjab earlier this week presents an object lesson to the Narendra Modi government as well as the Congress itself. The poll results have pushed the otherwise powerful Akali Dal, which derives its authority from Sikh religious forums, and the BJP into a narrow corner. The lesson for India’s oldest party, which now appears to be in a semi-somnolent state in many parts of the country — is that the road to revival is not closed. But there is a proviso: in the states the party must be led by local stalwarts who have come up the political ladder in the normal course of elections and manoeuvring, and not by lightweight flunkeys accidentally selected by the central leadership and its nominated committees on a whim or to bestow personal favours.

In Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, in spite of his advanced years, proved his mettle. He gave mature political leadership. He could instinctively pick issues to highlight that matter. He The Modi government also dealt with upstarts favoured by the Centre

in a manner that did not raise any dust and he and the ruling BJP

did not throw tantrums, although he is a cannot but have

maharaja. Attempts by his opponents to throw noticed that the day barbs of a personal nature at him cut no ice. after the Punjab civic No doubt, the farmers’ agitation helped the poll results came out, Congress greatly. Former party chief Rahul

Gandhi’s initiative in the Lok Sabha in holding Rakesh Tikait called

two minutes silence — by treading into the on the community of Speaker’s domain — in memory of the farmers farmers to intensify who have died in the agitation could hardly their agitation have gone unnoticed in Punjab or anywhere

else.

But these meaningful acts of symbolism may not have gone far enough and been translated into votes, were it not for the astute leadership of the state by Captain Amarinder Singh and the tending of the state party organisation by PCC chief Sunil Jakhar in a sober manner. The Congress high command, such as it is, will doubtless realise that the party could have swept the Assembly election in neighbouring Haryana if only it had handed over charge of the party to Bhupinder Hooda early enough.

The Modi government and the ruling BJP cannot but have noticed that the day after the Punjab civic poll results came out, Rakesh Tikait, who has by now emerged as a famous farmers’ leader from western Uttar Pradesh, called on the community of farmers to intensify their agitation and not return home until the controversial farm laws are rolled back. It is not unlikely that the farmers will show up in poll-bound West Bengal to queer the pitch for the BJP, which is trying hard to challenge Trinamul Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Punjab results also point to the fact that the dissatisfaction with the Centre’s policies that have fuelled unemployment, shutting down of micro, small and medium industries, and the relentless climb in diesel and petrol prices, are hurting the urban voter badly. The government leadership and the ruling party leadership need to look sharp and make wise choices.

Unnao, Feb. 19: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday held two people in connection with the deaths of two teenage girls at an Unnao village, accusing them of murder over a one-sided love affair.

The third victim in the case is battling for life at a hospital.

One of the accused held in the case is a teenager, according to police.

“Vinay Kumar, alias Lambu, and a teenager have been held in connection with the case. The matter is a fallout of a one-side love affair. The accused gave some pesticide with water to the three girls,” Lucknow Range IG Laxmi Singh told reporters here.

Both accused are residents of Pathakpur village in the Ashoha area and were held on a tipoff, the IG said.

During interrogation, Vinay told police that he was involved in agriculture and owned a piece of land at Baburaha village, near the spot where girls were found on Wednesday night.

According to police, Vinay told them that the girls used to go to the fields for fodder and they became friends during the Coronavirus lockdown. He had a onesided love affair with one of the girls.

We used to play and eat together in the field. I had a one-sided love affair with her. When I proposed her, she rejected. When I asked her this month to give me her phone number, she did not give due to which I was angry and decided to kill her,” Vinay told police.

“On Wednesday, I mixed pesticide in a water bottle and asked my friend to bring snacks. The three had it and when they asked for water, I gave them the water bottle in which pesticide was mixed and they drank it. I had left their bodies in the field,” the IG said quoting Vinay’s confession. —

London, Feb. 19: Britain’s Prince Harry will relinquish his honorary military appointments and patronages after confirming to Queen Elizabeth II that he and his wife Meghan Markle will not return as working royals, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are officially known, rocked the British monarchy when they quit frontline royal duties a year ago and relocated to the United States, where they have embarked on several commercial ventures.

Under the terms of their departure, thrashed out at an emergency summit with the queen in early 2020, Harry agreed the couple would stop using the “Royal Highness” title and no longer carry out duties on behalf of the monarch, but vowed to review the moves a year on.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family,” Buckingham Palace said.

“The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities.” —