regionalbuzz Keeping tabs on power politics in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and J&K
Dhami faces protest from women SGPC members
Immediately after getting re-elected as SGPC president, Harjinder Singh Dhami faced a sharp reaction from women members who stood up and raised slogans against him for not nominating even a single woman among the office bearers and executive body. Jagir Kaur, who unsuccessfully took on Dhami, had also raised the issue. On realising the faux pas, the new body, which has a majority of members from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), asked women members to submit some names, but they refused and left the Teja Singh Samundari Hall, the venue of the general body meeting, to register their protest. Later, the president announced to induct Jaswinder Kaur Bholuwal as an executive member, and the gurdwara committee staff had to struggle to get her signatures on the incumbents’ book.
Fans lap up Ram Rahim’s new videos
Two Punjabi music videos s ung by rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh drew a massive response from his fans on YouTube in the last fortnight. On a 40-day parole since October 15, the controversial head of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda has also acted in the videos. Digital footprints of the two videos say that millions watched the videos and posted comments appreciating them without registering any ‘dislike’ response. The first song “Sadi Nit Diwali’ was watched by 11 million online users and 1.34 lakh audience ‘liked’ it till October 24. Another video ‘Jaago duniya de loko’ is themed against drug abuse with a message to the society to unite against the social nuisance. It got 5.7 million views till November 9 and over one lakh viewers stamped the ‘like’ button.
SGPC polls: Sukhbir’s close aide told to leave venue
The annual election session of SGPC general house was full of drama. Some senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faced embarrassment as they were not allowed to enter the Teja Singh Samundari Hall where the session was held. Party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s right-hand man Charanjit Singh Brar entered the hall and sat there. However, some SGPC members from the opposition objected to his presence. Brar was reluctant but had to leave.
Bittu takes a dig at Mann govt
Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu mocked the Punjab Police’s decision to provide bulletproof jackets to Shiv Sena leaders in Ludhiana as a “security measure” following the killing of Hindu leader Sudhir Suri in Amritsar. “It’s only comedy happening in the state with a comedian chief minister. Is a bulletproof jacket any answer to a security threat? It’s a matter of laughter, can they wear it everywhere?” Bittu said during an interaction with mediapersons, taking a dig at satirist-turnedpolitician Bhagwant Mann.
Bhullar, a sports buff
Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has been taking a keen interesting in promoting sports activities in his assembly constituency. Donning a T-shirt and track pants, the minister visited Patti sports stadium on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Tuesday. He first lit candles in the stadium and then played a football match with the local youths. He also participated in some yoga exercises. Bhullar has been visiting the stadium for running and other sports-related activities.
Vij’s cryptic post
An “inadvertent” social media post by Haryana home minister Anil Vij was at the centre of discussion in state’s political and administrative circles last week. Vij, who regularly sends statements on the social media platform, WhatsApp, posted a message which sounded like a gripe. The outspoken minister’s post centered around the point that he has been treated as a stranger for the last eight years (since BJP came to power in the state). However, nine minutes after posting the message, the home minister deleted it. He also clarified that these lines got inadvertently pasted in the broadcast list of WhatsApp and should be ignored. It is a known fact that Vij does not enjoy the best of relations with chief minister ML Khattar, and the two are often at odds with each other.
Bishnoi can now travel abroad
Former Haryana Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi, who joined the BJP in August, will now be able to travel abroad. The Delhi high court had allowed his son Bhavya Bishnoi, now a BJP MLA, to travel to the US for higher education in 2021, subject to the surrender of his father’s passport. Both are facing prosecution under the Black Money Act. However, after Bhavya petitioned the HC in August this year stating that he wanted to return to India to pursue his political career, the HC (after Bhavya’s return) ordered in September that his father’s passport be returned to him. A lookout circular against Kuldeep, communicated by income tax authorities to every immigration check post in the country, including international airports and seaports, to ensure that he does not leave the country was also ordered to be withdrawn by a local court last week.
Polls on mind, Kashmir parties hold marches, corner meets
As talk of polls gathers momentum, there is a festive mood in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), especially in Kashmir where political leaders have started preparing for the electoral battle. Rallies, corner meetings, and marches are being held by different political parties trying to show their sway over the masses. J&K is under the governor’s rule since 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 which also saw the state getting divided into two Union territories. After the delimitation exercise, everybody is now waiting for the announcement of poll dates that the centre has kept a closely guarded secret. The way big rallies and political meetings are taking place, it seems political leaders have got a signal about the poll dates.
Verbal duels on polling day in HP
Even as voting for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh largely passed off peacefully, candidates battled it out in public at some places, resorting to a scuffle and swear words. In Paonta Sahib, BJP nominee and incumbent minister Sukhram Chaudhary and Congress’ Kirnesh Jung indulged in verbal dual which almost turned into a fistfight. A video went viral on social media in which Chaudhary and Jung could be seen hurling abuses at each other, and there was also a minor scuffle. The fight allegedly broke out after Chaudhary visited a polling booth to which Congress workers objected. Chaudhary, however, said he went to the booth only to find reason the behind slow polling.
Rivals bond over cuppa
Congress’ state election campaign committee head Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and BJP nominee Vijay Agnihotri are slugging it out for a third time in a row from the Nadaun assembly segment. Unlike many other leaders, however, these two political foes share a good rapport. On polling day, when they ran into each other at a polling station, the duo took out time to sit
for a cup of tea. As Sukhu and Agnihotri had a lengthy discussion on the political scenario in the state, their supporters surrounding them enjoyed the cordial talk.