Majithia family enjoys maximum power: Badal

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

In what could be seen as a snub to the powerful Majithia family, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal claimed the family enjoyed “maximum benefits of power” in the government.

The chief minister, who was speaking at the 108th convocation of the historical Khalsa College, was addressing Satyajit Singh Majithia, Chairman of the College’s Governing Council and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s father-in-law, who had sought a grant for the college.

“I have made your son a Cabinet minister in the state, your daughter a Union minister and your son-in-law the Deputy CM of Punjab. Perhaps you are the only person in the country whose son, daughter and son-in-law are at such positions.”

He also went on to add: “I have been frequently criticised for what I have already done for you”.

However, Badal announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the college.

While outwardly, Badal’s statement elicited shouts of laughter, his sudden deviation from a speech on quality of education left some wondering if it was a pointed jibe at Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, senior Majithia’s son, who shared the stage with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley; Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal; and Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma. His statement certainly surprised those sharing the stage.

It was also significant to note that the revenue minister’s photograph was missing from the banner displayed over the stage.  (With PTI inputs)