‘Pulwala’ Khanna bridged the gap

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, April 27

His constituents often referred Vinod Khanna as “pulwala Khanna”. The MP earned this epithet after he got constructed nearly six puls (bridges) in border areas. Prominent among these include the one on the Beas on the Gurdaspur-Mukerian road and another on the Ujha near Taragarh.

Both these bridges not only boosted the economy of this border constituency having Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Batala as main cities, but also improved Gurdaspur district’s connectivity with the rest of the state.

The Mukerian pul, as the bridge on the Beas is often referred to, has proved a boon for sugarcane farmers who otherwise had to trudge long distances to take their produce to Mukerian sugar mill.

While Khanna claimed to have brought in funds from his MPLAD fund scheme and NABARD, it was Capt Amarinder Singh who inaugurated the bridge on August 21, 2003, which had infuriated the MP and his supporters.

Ten days later, Khanna asked his supporters to “cleanse” the bridge before he himself inaugurated it amid tension.

Among the unfinished projects, residents say the two most important ones pertained to level crossings on the narrow gauge Jogindernagar-Pathankot line in Pathankot and the development of Ranjit Sagar Lake into a tourist spot.

“Had both these projects taken off, the city would have seen so much of development. Moreover, the already sagging economy of Pathankot, which comes to a halt every time a train passes through it, could have been revived had the crossings been removed. Two years ago, Khanna roped in top hospitality honchos to develop the lake into an international water tourist spot, but once he got sick the project was put to the backburner,” said Pathankot Mayor Anil Vasudeva.

Khanna will also be remembered for being a compassionate and caring man. Kartik Wadhera, a resident, remembers the time when during the last election, a child was run over by the MP while driving his car.

Wadhera said though the media criticised him with headlines such as “Dayavan has no daya”, they overlooked the fact that the actor himself took the child to hospital and paid for his treatment. He was to address a party rally where Delhi leaders were scheduled to arrive, but he gave the rally a miss and stayed with the child and his parents throughout the night, he said.

Over the last two years, his political rivals had been taking pot shots at him for remaining away from his constituency. Once, a Congress leader even got pasted posters in the town claiming “Khanna missing from action”.

The MP had remained unfazed. He had said: “I have to be true to my profession (acting) and that is why most of the time I remain in Mumbai. At the same time, I do recognise the need for my constituents. I am an MP and am aware of the responsibilities. That is why I have purchased a house in Pathankot. Anybody is welcome to meet me to get his or her problem addressed.”

Ritu Raj Vig is one resident who is ready to vouch for Khanna’s generosity. His 14-year-old son was suffering from a serious disease and he casually discussed the problem with Khanna.

The MP immediately made arrangements for Vig to get his son treated at a top Mumbai hospital at no cost to him. Vig recalls how his son’s condition improved after that. “Needless to say, Khanna is my God and will remain one till my last breath,” he says.

Khanna was also in touch with a Delhi hospital where he would get poor patients from his constituency treated free of cost.

Earlier, Khanna had remained Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Vajpayee Cabinet in 2002. In January 2003, he was elevated as Minister of State for External Affairs.