Anything for a meeting with CM

Chandigarh: Protesting members of the Contractual Employees Action Committee, a forum of 27,000 employees of the state, have issued a “missing in Punjab” notice for Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Promised regularisation of services before the 2017 elections by Capt Amarinder, they claim that he has neither kept his word nor granted them an audience. The committee has also offered a reward to anyone who can arrange their meeting with the CM or state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar. The reward: 21 employees will work for free in the house of their facilitator for 21 days, and 11 for 11 days, if a meeting is fixed with Capt Amarinder and Jakhar, respectively. A special reward of 51 employees working for free for 51 days is being offered for an audience with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. tns

Sidhu banks on canines

Chandigarh: Staying alone in his official accommodation in Sector 2, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu recently came back from his constituency in Amritsar district with ‘gaddi kutte’ (Himalayan sheepdogs) Robin and Batman. “Theirs is one of the most faithful breeds among dogs. They are reliable company, in contrast to many dangerous schemers I meet daily in political circles,” he said.

MLA’s soft spot for linemen

Chandigarh: Before entering politics last year, AAP MLA from Bhadaur Pirmal Singh spearheaded the struggle of unemployed linemen, sitting on an indefinite fast and getting thrashed by cops countless times. He might be a neta now, but his affection for his former colleagues remains unchanged. At his recent wedding, a low-key affair, one-third of the baraatis were unemployed linemen. The matchmaker (“vichola”), too, belonged to this group.

Officers push for admissions

Patiala: Traffic police officials are adopting a carrot-and-stick policy here to appease their seniors. Buses of private schools are targeted for violations, but later let off with a warning on the intervention of top officers. Reason: The officers are keen on admissions in these schools. “Every day, an SHO or a traffic policeman is sent to our school, requesting us for a child’s admission. They arrive in uniform and we have to allow them inside the campus,” a senior school functionary said. “My senior told me to get this admission done. Do I have a choice?” an SHO said.

‘Goonda tax’: Back to square one

Bathinda: ‘Goonda tax’ collection outside the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery here has proved that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The change of guard in the state almost a year ago has made no difference to the people involved in this malpractice. The transporters, who were at the receiving end during the SAD-BJP rule, had joined the Congress ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections, hoping that the party would rid them of their troubles. However, they found that the same local transporters whom they had accused of collecting ‘goonda tax’ had switched over to the Congress too. What’s worse, the rates have gone up from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per truck.

SAD already in ‘poll mode’

Jalandhar: With a year to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the SAD is going all out to make its statewide “pol khol” rallies a well-managed, hi-tech affair. Drone cameras, social media teams equipped with gadgets, high-quality colour placards – it’s all there. There is a wide variety of snacks being served to the public. The party is somehow maintaining the standards set during its functions when it was in power for a decade. With farmers relatively free these days ahead of the wheat harvesting season, the rallies held in rural/semi-rural areas have been drawing crowds.

Muktsari kurta-pyjama makes waves

Muktsar: The Muktsari kurta-pyjama, a favourite among politicians, has caught Bollywood’s attention. Singer-rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh recently got stitched one from Prince Style here. Uploading a picture on his Facebook page, he wrote: “My look for my younger brother’s wedding!! Kurta-pajamma by Prince Muktsarwala”. The post has got over 92,000 likes and 1,800 comments. Manpreet Singh, owner of Prince Style, said, “Due to our high quality of stitching and special fitting, we have many VVIP clients, including bigwigs in state politics and bureaucracy. We have now entered Bollywood.” What’s next? Hollywood?