Regional Journal: Modi’s letter creates flutter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter to Akali MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal wishing her on her birthday on July 25 has political pundits reading between the lines. The letter has certainly set the political corridors abuzz about a possible re-alliance between the SAD and the BJP ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab. It is widely believed in Punjab that it is Harsimrat, not her husband and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal, with whom the BJP’s most powerful duo, PM Modi-HM Amit Shah are miffed, over her critical comments during the Punjab farmers' siege of Delhi.

Special cakes for Kharge

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who turned 83 on July 21, got a pleasant surprise on his birthday. As soon as he arrived in the Parliament House Complex for the day’s proceedings, he was ushered in by Congress MPs to a surprise party where he cut a special cake baked by Priyanka Gandhi. A special fruitcake, ordered by his aides, also greeted him at his Rajaji Marg residence. “Never seen such a beautiful cake!” the veteran quipped.

Gurdaspur’s night rider

Every night around 10 pm, a sturdy-built man covers his face with a black cloth and starts driving a motorcycle through Gurdaspur’s dark and narrow streets. Gangsters fear his arrival. Youngsters have tried following him to know his identity but have not been successful so far. They are not aware that the masked man is none other than Gurdaspur SSP Aditya.

BJP dodges queries on Kangana

Kangana Ranaut seems to have become a hot potato for HP BJP leaders. They are dodging questions about the controversial Mandi MP. Himachal Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur had avoided a direct reply when the scribes asked him why Kangana had not reached Mandi immediately after the disaster. A few days back, state BJP leader Rajeev Bindal also ducked a question on Kangana during a press conference.

Contributed by Sanjeev Singh Bariana, Aditi Tandon, Ravi Dhaliwal and Subhash Rajta