H1N1 fear grips Vidhan Sabha

Swine flu fear gripped the Vidhan Sabha the moment Speaker Rajeev Bindal announced that he was down with H1N1. A medical team from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) swung into action and administered anti-viral doses to his entire staff, who were in touch with him. The news almost created panic, with some  MLAs urging Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to get tests of all legislators done as a precautionary measure. The Chief Minister, while sharing the concern of all, said there was no need to panic. In case of a doubt, one could get the test done at the IGMC, he said. 

Transfer nagging makes Bhardwaj short-tempered

These days, most people are wondering why Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj loses his cool so frequently. His Cabinet colleagues and legislators have been heard saying how the minister has changed so much.   “In anger, your face turns red and even our CPM flag’s colour look dull,” MLA Rakesh Singha said on a lighter vein. Some other MLAs too pitched in, but with an argument in favour of Bhardwaj. “Bhardwaj ji is just not used to keeping quiet when he sees something wrong being done,” said an MLA. Or is it the constant nagging for transfers by teachers that has made Bhardwaj so short-tempered ?

Yet another family feud 

to the fore 

Nothing seems to be impossible in politics at least that is what is indicated with  Solan MLA Dr Shandil staking claim to the Shimla Lok Sabha seat, though initially showing reluctance when asked by mediapersons. If given a ticket, the seat could witness another family feud  after  the Vidhan Sabha poll where a contest had taken place between the father-in-law and his son-in-law. With Shandil’s  son-in-law’s  elder brother  Virender Kashyap being the incumbent MP, it  remains to be seen whether another such electoral clash is round the corner. Whatever be the outcome, poll pundits are already calculating the outcome and also wondering  who the Congress will field if Shandil wins the Lok Sabha seat and resigns from the Vidhan Sabha seat. Stakes are high for  Shandil and his kin and all eyes are focused on this clan alone.

Travel time reduced by an hour after 90 years

This week, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated the train between Pathankot and Jogindernagar. The new train will reduce the travel time from six hours to five hours. All four ministers from Kangra, including the CM, flagged off the train. However, it left many pondering if it was an achievement for Himachal and worth celebrating. While the British constructed the railway track in just two years from 1926 to 28, even after 70 years of Independence, the government could not extend the track by an inch. We are just celebrating that after more than 90 years of its inauguration, we have been able to reduce the travel time by one hour!