Shooter hits the bull’s eye

Fatehgarh Sahib: Recognising the achievements of 17-year-old budding shooter Arjun Singh Cheema of Mandi Gobindgarh, the administration honoured him on the Republic Day. Cheema won two gold medals for the country in the junior men’s 50m pistol event in the 52nd ISSF World Championship held in Korea recently. Earlier, he helped India to win team gold medals during the ISSF Junior World Cups held in Suhl and Sydney. He is Asian Games bronze medalist in 10m air rifle mixed team. Recently in the Khelo India Games, he won gold for Punjab in air pistol event.

Guessing game on Padma Bhushan

Chandigarh: Two national honours for eminent personalities in the state on Republic Day caught the attention of one and all. While  Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been conferred the Padma Shri in science and engineering domain for agriculture research, political circles are abuzz on why veteran Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who quit all party posts last year, has been honoured with Padma Bhushan. Dr Dhillon is an eminent plant breeding scientist and is known for his work on improved varieties of maize. His name was recommended by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. But for Dhindsa, the guessing game is on as to who recommended his name. Did the Badals get it done to woo him back? That’s the question being asked. TNS

Follow the protocol, Mr Minister

Gurdaspur: Public figures often have to be reminded of the need to maintain protocol. Cabinet minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria was no exception when a cop standing nearby had to nudge him to take the salute during the Republic Day function. The minister had apparently forgotten that one must salute the flag after unfurling it. While Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal and SSP Swarandeep Singh, standing behind the minister, took the salutations, Sarkaria stood still before he cop whispered something in his ear. In no time, a video of the incident went viral giving Sarkaria’s opponents enough fodder to blast him. Though the PR team went on an overdrive to ensure the incident remained under the wraps, they should know that in the time of social media, such things cannot be kept away from public glare.

What’s in name? Ask this politician

Muktsar: Like Bollywood stars, politicians too are not immune to superstitions. For instance, Harcharan Singh Brar, the newly appointed president of the District Congress Committee, was earlier known as Harcharan Singh Sotha. Sotha is the name of his native village here, which he had added to his name. But when an astrologer told him that the village name was a “hurdle” in his political career, he changed his name to Harcharan Singh Brar. In a recent interaction with the media, he admitted to the fact, although laughingly.

Lending a helping hand to girls 

Abohar: Every Year “Lohari dhiyan di” event is organised by the Sriganganagar Chamber of Commerce and Baba Deep Singh Sewa Samiti. The organisers offer education packages to the girls who can’t afford higher studies. The aspirants can submit applications online. Chamber chairman Vijay Jindal and samiti president Satnam Singh Ladda said they recently held the event at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh on the Republic Day. More than 5,600 girls submitted their applications. Some educational institutions have offered to wave admission fee, others will offer scholarships to the selected candidates in coaching, diploma courses.

Surplus food? Call this NGO

Fazilka: Tonnes of food get wasted every in marriage parties and other programmes. Keeping this in view, local youths under the banner of Robin Hood Army (RHA) have decided to distribute surplus food among the poor. The volunteers collect food from parties and events and invite children to consume it. The NGO has prepared a list of more than 300 children to whom they have been providing clothes and other necessary items as well. They have now opened an academy to offer free education to the poor kids.

Contributed by Surinder Bhardwaj, Ravi Dhaliwal, Archit Watts, Raj Sadosh and Praful Chander Nagpal