Capt is cool about his age
Unlike most other politicians, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh doesn’t mind talking about his age. The septuagenarian leader, who has already declared that this is his last term in politics, was the chief guest at the HT Youth Forum 2017 on Friday. The Congress leader, in his eight-minute long speech, said when he was invited for the event, he was wondering why he was asked to preside over a youth festival. “I don’t fit in from the age point of view. Neither does Balbirji. He is a generation beyond me,” said the two-time chief minister before lauding former player Balbir Singh as a great hockey legend. Not that age mattered much, as Amarinder, who turned 75 the day he won the state elections, chatted with each of the young achievers before felicitating them. Another trait not usually associated with netas!Sand mining biz catches netas’ fancy A perception that sand is a money-spinner appears to have caught the fancy of people from other businesses. Former Nawanshahr MLA Guriqbal Kaur, who took charge of her family’s transport business and politics after her husband Parkash Singh’s death, doesn’t see a future in it. She asked her son Angad Saini, who is the youngest MLA in the new House, wind up transport business and look for options. And, Angad, according to sources, bid for sand quarries. But Kaur needs to know that sand mining raises more dust than the bus business. though no one had asked him why he was addressing media at his house. “Sorry to call you at my residence. Holding it at any other place is a costly affair. One needs at least Rs 10,000-12,000. Kindly bear with me today,” he said. Now that’s quite something coming from someone who had declared assets worth Rs 60 crore in an affidavit submitted during the state assembly polls this year. arrangements. “There are three ministers on this floor. When all three are in station, things get a bit difficult,” he said after arranging tea. With chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh likely to expand his cabinet soon, at least two more ministers may get offices on the same floor, leading to more visitors. Just image the scene!