AAP ‘realises’ power of media

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in Punjab seem to have changed their media strategy after the state assembly polls. Before the elections, the instant response of party leaders or supporters to any story or comment that was not to their liking was to attack the media on social media. They are now trying to build a rapport with journalists after the poll debacle. The party’s local leadership in Amritsar recently hosted a “grand lunch” for mediapersons at a plush restaurant. Asked about the change of strategy, AAP’s zonal in-charge Kuljit Singh said there was a realisation that the media had fully cooperated despite lack of response from the party’s side. However, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, chief whip of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab assembly, was critical of the working style of the Congress government. Comparing its first few weeks with the 10-year rule of the Shiromani Akali DalBharatiya Janata Party (SADBJP) combine, he said the only difference was colour coding. “Apart from the change in colours of kachhey(underwear) worn by policemen, pugg(turbans) of politicians controlling the government and jhandey (flags) of the party running the government, nothing has changed,” he said. Earlier, the state police used to wear blue-coloured underwear, now they wear white. Politicians wear white and pastelcoloured turbans instead of blue. The new ruling party’s flag has three colours, whereas it was kesri during the previous regime. is trying to go an extra mile. “Sarkaari bus vich safar karo, sarkari khazane vich vhadda karo, Punjab nu khushal banao (Travel in government buses, help in increasing state revenue and, thus, building a prosperous state),” reads the slogan on stickers put on the PRTC buses, reflecting the changed approach. “These stickers came out recently, and the number of buses has also gone up,” said the conductor of a bus on the Dabwali-Bathinda route. became a talking point in the corridors of power in Haryana last week. The post containing an objectionable video evoked sharp reactions from the group members. The officers deleted the post within moments, saying that the video was posted by mistake. He also apologised to the group members, trying to put an end to the controversy. transport policy 2017, the authorities say they would only modify it, triggering another stand-off. The upset employees, who had gone on strike for three days last month, have threatened to gherao the office of transport commissioner this week. Don’t be surprised if there is another flash strike in the coming days.