KEEPING TABS ON POWER POLITICS IN PUNJAB, HARYANA, HIMACHAL PRADESH AND JAMMU AND KASHMIR
BHATTI ALL PRAISES FOR CAPT
Captain Amarinder Singh came to power last year with the promise of “ghar ghar naukri”. Notwithstanding the opposition criticism, Punjab deputy speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti, who belongs to the ruling Congress, feels the government has done well on this front, providing enough jobs in the past 18 months. “Vaise ta Punjabian nu, khas krke naujwana nu, mukh mantri Capt Amarinder Singh di photo ghar ghar lva k rakhni chaidi a, apne purse ch pa k rkhni chaidi a jina di soch sadka pehla lok naukria bhalde c hun naukria wale mundya nu bhalde firde a (Punjabis, particularly youngsters, should keep a photo of CM Captain Amarinder Singh in their homes as well as in their wallets. Because of his visionary thinking, those who used to look for jobs earlier are now finding companies coming to them with job offers),” he claimed after attending a job fair in Muktsar. Ask leaders of the opposition AAP and SAD and they will scoff at these claims.
KHAIRA ENDS ‘SOCIAL MEDIA FAST’ WITH A BANG
Known for his penchant for social media, rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira took everyone by surprise when he went virtually quiet online for some time more than a week ago. The social media aficionado did not put out any tweet or go live on Facebook for five days. And, this happened after the Bholath MLA, along with another dissident legislator Kanwar Sandhu, was expelled by the AAP for “anti-party activities”. As his sudden silence on social media became a talking point in political circles, Khaira returned with a bang. He posted a photo of eight of the 20 MLAs on Twitter to deny pro-Delhi group’s claim that seven dissident MLAs were in touch with the party. “Hope this picture is a befitting reply to such liars,” he tweeted. If his silence was a planned “social media fast” is not known, but one thing is clear that Khaira cannot stay away for long given his popularity on these platforms.
PUNJAB’S ‘HELICOPTERWALI SARKAR’
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh is not known for frequently touring the state. Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia took a dig at the CM during a party rally in Jalandhar the other day by raking up the Congress election manifesto’s punchline — “Chahunda hai Punjab, Captain di sarkar”. “This is helicopter-wali sarkar. I hope one day Captain will fly over Jalandhar in his chopper and get a glimpse of problems people are facing just the way he noticed illegal sand mining a few months ago,” Majithia said before comparing the two-time CM with his “always approachable” predecessor Parkash Singh Badal. Of course, Amarinder, who is often accused of frequenting Delhi more often than districts of Punjab, is not going to like the jibe.
CHEEMA’S ‘ONEWAY BROADCAST’
With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in turmoil, party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema has been addressing press conferences frequently. The press meets usually begin with a monologue wherein Cheema, a close confidante of the Badals, goes on and on to convey simple things as if he is addressing a political rally. The unease among partymen sitting beside him is often palpable. What’s more, he doesn’t like to be interrupted for clarification or queries. “Let me complete first,” is his curt response.
SIT’S FAUX PAS ON SUMMONS
Call it carelessness or anything else. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the sacrilege and police firing cases was left red-faced last week by its faux pas of sending summons for former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to present CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s official residence in Chandigarh. But that was not the only indiscretion. The probe team has also summoned actor Akshay Kumar to Amritsar on November 21. While no contact numbers, mobile or landline, were mentioned in the summons to Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, the SIT listed Akshay’s two mobile numbers in summons sent to him. Copies of summons went viral on the social media after these were put out by TV channels and news websites. Both these numbers were invalid, though. Need one say the probe team should show more diligence!
SHWAIT’S JIBE AT MANPREET, SIDHU
With the parliamentary polls due early next year, Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik is going at the Congress government with guns blazing. Malik, while addressing a press conference in Ludhiana recently, began by taking a dig at job fairs being held by the state government. “Palle nai dhela, karna mela mela (no money with them, yet organising fairs),” he said before assailing two senior ministers. The Rajya Sabha MP said finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal prefers to keep mum, whereas local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu just doesn’t stop speaking. “He (Sidhu) has made the department a laughter challenge show,” said the BJP leader.
ABHAY DOWNPLAYS FAMILY FEUD
Notwithstanding the political split with estranged elder brother Ajay Chautala, his wife and two sons, INLD leader Abhay Chautala, who has virtually taken control of the party, has been trying to downplay the rift on familial front. Abhay, while interacting with reporters after a party meeting in Chandigarh last week, hoped that Ajay had a sound sleep after calling him “Duryodhan’’ as it would have been hard for him to use such harsh words given the bonding between them. Asked about his sister-in-law and Dabwali MLA Naina Chautala’s statement calling him “goonda” (goon), the INLD leader said she had been married to his brother (Ajay) for 32 years and had never thought so earlier. “Even today, our family meals come from her home. And, this will stop only when she decides,” he added. With brothers at war, it does get melodramatic.
JAI RAM AS COLUMNIST
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, who was associated with art, culture and theatre before joining politics, wants to write a column in newspapers. On the National Press Day, Thakur told a gathering of journalists that just as mediapersons form opinion about politicians, the latter, too, have opinion about journalists and their publications. “I feel that I should write a column. The media should use restraint while criticising the government. Criticism is fine, but they should also have suggestions,” he said before condemning those spreading canards about private lives of politicians. Wonder what Thakur has to say to netas many of whom do not have a glowing track record!
A ROUGH BUS RIDE FOR PARMAR
Like other politicians who try to portray themselves as “aam aadmi”, Himachal health minister Vipin Singh Parmar also took a bus in his Sulah assembly segment recently. His aides promptly posted a photo of the minister’s bus ride on the social media. Though they were expecting praise for the minister, the bus ride did not go down well. Parmar drew more flak than applause with some people calling his journey a trick to fool them. A few even reminded the minister about his request to the government to provide him a luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) as it was more comfy on roads of the hill state.
LADAKH MP’S DISENCHANTMENT WITH BJP
With Thupstan Chhewang quitting his Lok Sabha seat and the party on “health grounds”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be in trouble in Ladakh constituency. The 71-year-old leader was annoyed with the BJP high command over raw deal to the Ladakh region despite the promise of UT status, a long-pending demand. Thupstan’s resignation came after the party failed to open its account in municipal polls in Leh last month from which the MP had largely stayed away. No wonder the two developments have got the party leadership worried.