When festivities got the better of policemen

Making headlines for not the best of reasons in the recent past, Himachal Police celebrated its Raising Day for the first time ever with a lot of fanfare. Trying to push the gloomy events relating to the rape and murder of the 16-year-old Kotkhai girl behind it, there was much festivity with Governor Acharya Devvrat gracing the occasion. However, it appears that the festivity got the better of the policemen, who decided to give a complete go-by to norms when it came to their own vehicles. The official vehicles of the top officers could be seen parked on the sealed road right from Oakover, Chief Minister’s official residence till the road bifurcating towards US Club. Being a sealed route, no vehicle is allowed to even wait for some time here, leave aside being parked for two to three hours, while the officers dined at a nearby hotel.

One could hear the pedestrians crossing remark, “rules for others not for self.” The traffic and other police personnel on duty were ensuring that all vehicles were parked on the sealed road. However, when it comes to other vehicles then a challan is handed over immediately. Anyone hearing - Should we not practice what we preach to others?

CM hopefuls on a rejuvenation trip 

It is a hot talk on social media and in the capital city here that CM -designate - Raja (Virbhadra Singh) and Professor (PK Dhumal) - are on a rejuvenation trip to God’s own country - Kerala or some other towns in the South. Raja skipped or some say he could not make it due to some health reason the function party organised for elevation of Rahul Gandhi as the party boss in New Delhi last week. Raja was in Kerala to tone up his “ageing body” to brace up for the next innings in the state if his mission repeat succeeds. The watch dogs say that both CM hopefuls have taken refuge in some Panchkarma treatment or detoxifying centres somewhere in the south for a physical overhaul. Both are diabetic, reveal physicians and both need medicines regularly. The whole idea is to be ready for the next innings. They have time to be fit before the December 18 poll outcome. They and their family members are invoking their devis and devtas and their astrologers are being consulted to turn tide in their favour, say their supporters. But it is a “wait and watch” scenario till the D- day.

Overpowering social media & teachers 

Happy days for teachers in rural and remote areas are over, thanks to the technology which has empowered the social media to become omnipresent “super watch dog”. The absenteeism and coming late to the school or using the students as errand runners is under the watch of the “Third Eye” and erring teachers come to know about fault only after the videos become viral in the social media.

Two recent incidents of Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts where in the videos of students carrying the bags of the teachers and closing the school in the absence of the teachers went viral on Facebook and whatsapp, catching the attention of the authorities which swung into action. The people at the helms of affairs are also relieved as the issues flare up so fast that there is no room for political interference.

Aspirants make a beeline for Dhumal 

With a week left for the counting of votes, candidates hopeful of winning have started doing the rounds of senior leaders who could play a decisive role in allotting portfolios. While discussion on probable ministries was underway in both BJP and Congress, candidates who had gone all out trumpeting for JP Nadda were now bending backwards to show their loyalty to BJP’s CM candidate PK Dhumal. Interestingly, candidates, who were on a sticky wicket, were making sure their opponents in their own party were shown the door lest they occupied a prime post if their party forms the government.

Tough for bureaucrats to get leave

The bureaucrats posted in Kangra region are finding it hard to get leave these days. Many of them who applied for leave have either been denied the same by election commission or their superior officers in the name of election code of conduct. Since virtually no work was going on in the state due to the model code of conduct bureaucrats are coming and sitting idle in their offices. Some of them tried to avail their casual leave as the year was coming to an end. However, the denial of leave frustrated them. A senior bureaucrat said he found taking one day station leave for attending a marriage so hard that he had decided not to apply any more till the code of conduct was over.

Contributed by  Pratibha Chauhan, Kuldeep Chauhan, Bhanu P Lohumi, Ambika Sharma and Lalit Mohan