Trudeau’s parting shot

Chandigarh: The one-on-one interaction between Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar had its light moments. As the CM handed over two lists to Trudeau, one with the names of Canada-based operatives allegedly involved in the drug trade and the other of those purportedly financing terror activities, the Canadian premier said he hoped his ministers’ names didn’t figure on the lists.

Officer’s initiative pays off

Chandigarh: Once known as a filthy town, Bhadson in Patiala district now boasts of a Nagar Panchayat that is Punjab’s first urban local body to be declared Open-Defecation Free (ODF). The turnaround is being attributed to PCS officer Jiwanjot Kaur, who was posted as Deputy Director, Local Government, at Patiala and subsequently nominated as the brand ambassador for Bhadson. She says, “My first priority was to build a motivated team of safai sewaks. Sanitation staff, NGOs and school students were involved in an awareness campaign. Some local industrialists donated liberally for the construction of toilets and arranging rehris for the collection of garbage. The target of 100 per cent segregation of garbage was achieved in all wards. Together we have made this happen,” she says. TNS

Cops on top in cricket match

Amritsar: Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh’s hit number “Jehra dhakke char gya yaaran de, Punjab Police sardaran de, hath jorh mafiyaan mangda aa, eh rutbae ne sarkaran de” was played as a trumpet tune every time a member of the Tarn Taran SSP’s team hit a four or a batsman of the DC’s XI was dismissed during a friendly cricket match played here on Saturday. The match was won by SSP Darshan Singh Mann’s team. DSP (Special Task Force) Bal Krishan Singla, who scored 44 runs and took two wickets, was declared the man of the match.

Young bureaucrats a relieved lot

Muktsar: Several young bureaucrats are heaving a sigh of relief with the return of retired IAS officer Suresh Kumar as Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Reason: Kumar is known for standing up for the younger lot. An officer said, “Even as a major reshuffle is on the cards in the state, we are confident that postings and transfers will be done on merit, thanks to Kumar.”

Kapil stumped on home turf

Amritsar: Famous stand-up comedian and Amritsar native Kapil Sharma drove a Bullet without a helmet here in November last year. He then posted a video on Instagram. It went viral in no time. Now, he is facing a challan after a local organisation filed a complaint with the police. Keshav Kohli, president of the Independent Students Federation, said Sharma, being a celebrity and a role model for the youth, should abide by the law. The police said he would have to pay the fine and appear in a local court.

Parking contractors make hay

Patiala: Parking contractors, who are said to be working for a local politician, have converted vacant plots near the Sheesh Mahal here into paid parking lots during the ongoing SARAS mela. They have not even spared various roads in the area. People who park vehicles on the roadside are also charged. When Sufi singer Satinder Sartaaj performed on Friday night, the contractors doubled the parking rates in view of the heavy rush. Meanwhile, many local residents went home without visiting the mela during the star nite as the district administration hiked the Sheesh Mahal entry ticket fee from Rs 10 to Rs 100 per person.

Rare Cong-BJP bonhomie

Ferozepur: Sapna Tayal, who owes allegiance to the BJP, was recently elected vice-president of the local Cantonment Board with the help of Congress members. This “tie-up” has not gone down well with Congress veterans here. The SAD leaders, too, are upset with the alliance partner for siding with the rival party. Two weeks ago, board members of the Congress and the BJP had passed a no-confidence motion against then vice-president Surinder Singh Babbu, son of former Akali MLA Joginder Singh Jindu. The move led to Babbu’s ouster. Congress leaders are claiming that it was a step towards bringing board members of the BJP into the party fold.

Secret of Sidhu’s eloquence

New Delhi: Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu owes his famed eloquence to transcendental meditation. Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a press conference here on Saturday, Sidhu said meditation imbued the practitioner with clarity of thought and courage of conviction. He said: “When you are in an edified and ennobled state of consciousness, your thoughts are enlightened. The mind is in the auto-pilot mode. It digs deep and creates a synergy of unencumbered thought, matching words and phrases, and an emancipated style of narration.” Now that’s a Sidhuism with a spiritual spin.

Contributed by Rajmeet Singh, Manmeet Singh Gill, Archit Watts, Pawan Jaiswar, Gagan K Teja, Anirudh Gupta and Ravi S Singh