One-third pay for ministers, MLAs

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his deputy Sukhbir Badal, all cabinet ministers, Leader of Opposition and MLAs will get one-third salary for the month of March. Since the counting of votes is scheduled on March 11, the elected representatives of the 14th House will be paid only till that day. All other facilities, cars, government accommodation, and staff, will also be withdrawn as soon as the results are declared. Sources in the Finance Department said while the CM will draw Rs 53,200 as salary this month (against his monthly salary of Rs 1,50,000), all ministers along with the Deputy CM will get Rs 39,000 for 11 days. The MLAs will get Rs 33,350. Similarly, the travelling allowance bills of these representatives will be entertained only till the last day of the government.

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Capt or Jarnail? Lakhs at stake

Muktsar: Betting is illegal, but who bothers in this election season. For instance, Congress activist Inderjit Singh Aspalan and AAP volunteer Karaj Midha on Friday bet Rs 5 lakh on Lambi candidates Capt Amarinder Singh and Jarnail Singh, respectively. They handed over the cheques for Rs 5 lakh to an arhtiya in the presence of Congress leader Nathu Ram, among others. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, president, District Congress Committee, has put a post about the bet on Facebook. Jatinder Singh, SHO, City police station, Malout, said, “It has not come to my notice. If someone complains, the police will take action.”

Muktsar villagers run for health, peace 

Muktsar: Lakhewali village in the district set an example of sorts for others. On February 26, several villagers came out for a 5-km marathon. It was not an initiative by the district administration, but by a few football players. Children as young as five years old and elderly people participated. The message was to promote peace and harmony, unite everyone and create awareness about a healthy body.

Candidates keep fingers crossed

Gurdaspur: A majority of the candidates of the three mainline parties are likely to stay away from the counting process on March 11. In their place, their election agents will be present. “With a three-cornered contest, candidates are jittery with nobody knowing which way the game will swing. They feel that rather than to feel embarrassed later, it is better to stay at home at the time of counting,” an observer said. AAP’s Batala nominee Gurpreet Singh Waraich, however, confirmed his presence at the counting centre. “What’s there to fear? I fail to understand why candidates are staying away,” he said.

Price war fuels competition

Muktsar: Thanks to a competition among fuel station owners here, people are getting cheaper fuel. If fuel stations of a particular private company are offering Re 1 per litre discount on diesel, others have reduced the price by Rs 1.25. The offer may last for a short period, so hurry up motorists.

Power ‘defaulter’ cries foul

Muktsar: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) officials recently conducted a raid at the house of a SAD leader in Malout and detected a ‘kundi’ connection. A fine of Rs 60,000 was imposed. She, however, continued claiming that nothing objectionable was found at her home. “It doesn’t matter what officials are claiming. They may be affiliated to a rival party. I am ready to take a vow that no ‘kundi’ was detected at my house,” she said. A fine of Rs 60,000 imposed by the PSPCL belies her claim.

Yoga catches fancy of Sangrur residents

Sangrur: A yoga training camp organised by the Bharatiya Yog Sansthan here on March 4 and 5 inspired many to practise yoga. “We are running 3,200 yoga centres in 21 states of the country. The aim is to make people healthy through yoga. Around 300 persons were trained during the camp,” said Des Raj, “mahamantri” of the sansthan in Sangrur. A local youth, Surinder, said he would join yoga classes from Monday. 

‘Peepli Live’ outside Gurmehar’s house

Jalandhar: It was a ‘Peepli Live’ moment outside the house of Gurmehar Kaur, a Delhi University student who was trolled on the social media for daring the ABVP in one of her posts. Mediapersons from Delhi, Chandigarh and her hometown thronged her house for two days, waiting for a byte from her or her family. Cameramen kept their shutterbugs aimed at the house as the 20-year-old had decided not to issue a statement. Only after she and her mother came out and spoke to the media for a few minutes in the evening of the second day that mediapersons finally left her house.