Voters sore at ‘khansi wali dava’

Muktsar: Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring courted a controversy while campaigning in favour of Vinod Gothwal, Congress candidate from Pilibanga constituency (Rajasthan). In a video that went viral on social media, Warring said: “Agar Gothwal 20,000 se jeeta, jo bhi Punjab aayega, usko mithai aur khansi wali dava bhi milegi. Agar koi nahana chahega, khansi wali dava se nehla bhi denge. Ye free hai Punjab mein.... Aur agar 20,000 se kam chhoro jeeto, Pilibanga se koi bhi aayega mere ghar ya Punjab mein, hum bol denge kutte chhod do.” Clarifying, Warring said: “I just told the gathering that if the Congress candidate wins with a huge margin, they (voters) will get a warm welcome in Punjab. By ‘khansi wali dava’ I meant Corex because people are having cough these days.” 

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AAP’s ‘Chanakya’ out of hiding, finally

Chandigarh: Last week, former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan quit the BJP and joined AAP here. Spotted at the function was AAP national leader Durgesh Pathak, who had been dubbed ‘Chanakya’ by his supporters for his “political acumen”. Pathak had not only called poll strategist Prashant Kishor a dud, but also zeroed in on a government bungalow he was hoping to occupy after the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections. However, his own version of “Chanakya neeti” failed him as well as the party in the state. He was largely held responsible for AAP’s debacle in the polls. It was a surprise for many to see him back in the region after so long. TNS

For book release, NRI chooses alma mater

Patiala: An alumnus of Punjabi University, now settled in the US, recently released her debut novel on immigrant experiences during an event on the campus. Dr Simrita Dhir, who studied at the university’s Department of English, says her book “The Rainbow Acres” describes travails the migrants face after landing on foreign shores with strangers all around. Releasing the book, Prof BS Ghuman, Vice Chancellor, said teachers were honoured when their students took major leaps in life and returned to their roots to acknowledge the contribution of the institution concerned in shaping their future.

Education Dept falls prey to fake news

Patiala: The Education Department has become a victim of fake news on social media. A circular with regard to remedial classes for weak students recently went viral on social media. The circular read: “The Education Department is going to start remedial classes for weak students of Class X. The classes will be held from November 26 to February 16.” The department had to order its officers not to comply with the circular, calling it fake. It has told the DEOs to remain vigilant on such matters. The department had to even issue a 

clarification regarding the circular. 

‘Militical’ times with Capt at helm

Ludhiana: Some members of the audience, during a programme in Ludhiana to commemorate the 100 years of World War I, said the atmosphere of the state had been positively and decidedly turning “militical” because of mingling of military and politics, with Capt Amarinder Singh at the helm. “Being a former Armyman himself, and having a Lieutenant General as his senior adviser and Guardians of Governance watching over, military is finally getting its due. A military literature festival and commemoration of World War I centenary are other positive initiatives. “Had Punjab been a country, this government would have made it like Israel, where military training is mandatory for all citizens,” quipped a member from the audience.

All equal, some more equal than others

Kapurthala: At a political rally organised by the state 

government on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s 549th birth anniversary on Friday, almost all people were seated on mats. The dignitaries sat on chairs on the stage, but were still outside the view of the mediapersons seated far away on the ground. Right in front of the media gallery were two barricades, which were covered with flowers. The only option to see the dignitaries was by standing (over which the public at the rear objected) or watch them on screen. The Guru had advocated equality, but there was no place for it here.