‘Modi fest’ a flop show in Amritsar

After ‘Modi magic’ failed to work in Punjab during the parliamentary and assembly polls, his party’s celebrations to mark three years of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) During his low-profile visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday, Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi did not indulge in any political activity. The local leaders sought time to meet him, but were told to avoid any political talk, as his trip was “private”. Being left unheard, all they could do was take selfies with Rahul when he stood in queue outside sanctum sanctorum at Golden Temple. And, they did so despite a ban on taking pictures there. SGPC employees were seen asking them not to violate maryada. Manohar Lal Khattar got angry during his visit to a Karnal village to address a public meeting last week. A group of religious leaders from Balolpur village met the chief minister to discuss a land dispute after he finished his speech. But he flew into a rage, accused them of insulting him. “You all started hooting when I was addressing a gathering. Don’t you think you insulted me? If you think you did not, come to Chandigarh. I will take up your demand,” Khattar told them. Taken aback by the CM’s surprising reaction, the villagers also gave it back. “We made you CM. Now you are asking us to come to Chandigarh. You will get same reply when you for votes again,” replied a young villager.