BUT MINISTER IS IN NO MOOD TO STEP DOWN

CHANDIGARH : A white kurtapyjama and colour-coded vest, pocket square and turban in pastel shades, Punjab’s power and irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh is not known as much for his millions as his dressing style among Punjab MLAs.

Even the “dressing down” in the media — over reports of his alleged benami sand mining bids — have not affected Rana’s flourish to dress up.

In his white kurta-pyjama, orange turban, vest and pocket square, the minister looked upbeat as he came to his office at the secretariat on Wednesday.

Rana does not have many friends in the party and government to stand by him but he does not seem to need any. He has the confidence of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh himself and some of his close friends.

A day in Rana’s life remains quite the same. Accompanied by his confidant, Khadoor Sahib MLA Ramanjit Sikki, he went to meet CM’s chief principal secretary Suresh Kumar for some work before heading to his room full of people waiting for him. He met a few in the back room in his office and also asked his staff to allow the media in, but not for a “bite”.

“I have nothing to say to the media till the judicial commission gives its report,” is all that he told reporters.

“Not just Rana, even the CM may want to brazen it out as one wicket out of nine falling in two months is a bad start. But you can’t fault him in his dressing sense,” a Congress MLA quipped as Rana went past him in the corridors of the CM’s office. Rana’s confidence is sheer bravado or righteousness, only time will tell.