Regional Journal: Leading by example

Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has once again demonstrated that when it comes to delivering results, he is the minister truly chosen for the task. Entrusted with the critical responsibility of facilitating the safe evacuation of thousands of pilgrims stranded in Bharmour during the Manimahesh Yatra, he trekked several kilometers to reach Bharmour and camped there for over a week, overseeing the rescue operations personally. Earlier, during the rains in 2023, he, along with Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthy, played a pivotal role in reopening the road to Chandertal, where hundreds of tourists had been stranded.

Luxury vs relief

Punjabis are known for their love of luxury — Defenders, Fortuners, Glosters — and wardrobes filled with high-end brands are often worn like badges of pride. But when disaster strikes, that pride transforms into purpose. As floods wreaked havoc across the region, social media was flooded not just with images of destruction, but with heartwarming reels showing long convoys of these very vehicles — worth lakhs to crores — loaded with food, clothes, and relief supplies. The same Punjabis who flaunt their style didn’t hesitate to put their prized possessions to work.

Diesel man

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has earned a new nickname — “Diesel Man.” While touring flood-hit areas, he is not only handing out cash to those battling the deluge but also distributing thousands of litres of diesel to keep tractors running for flood-prevention work. In some villages, he even arrives accompanied by diesel-filled tankers. It’s no surprise, then, that some netizens have dubbed him “Diesel Man.”

Kissa Kursi Ka

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has featured in social media reels delivering help to people. However, one of her pictures has gone viral over a different issue. This photograph taken during Union Minister Shivraj Chauhan’s close-door meeting with Sawhney evoked some sentiments from Punjab’s netizens, stirring online chatter. In the photograph, Chauhan, AAP MLA Kuldeep Dhaliwal, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, BJP Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu, BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar, senior BJP leaders Tarun Chugh and Shwait Malik are seen sitting glued to their chairs, discussing the ground situation, while Sawhney is seen standing, prompting many to call out the lack of etiquette. Several called it as a proof of the difference between political leaders and civil servants, while others called out the leaders for not offering a chair to Sawhney, who seemed to be taking some notes, standing all the time.

Governor’s gesture

As chief guest at a Teachers’ Day function, Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla respectfully declined personal felicitation, acknowledging the grave disaster impacting the state. As the event drew to a close, he called for a two-minute silence to honour the victims, poignantly demonstrating his compassion and solidarity with those affected.

Contributed by Pratibha Chauhan, Jupinderjit Singh, Archit Watts, Neha Walia and Subash Rajta