Punjab Diary: Contenders and pretenders

Batala: With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner, this is the perfect time for parties to separate contenders from pretenders. Prospective AAP candidates are making a beeline for every reporter worth his salt. Then there are those who are making a dash to the Delhi residence of Arvind Kejriwal, but are returning to their bases sans any success. One of them, a Batala-based dog lover, has written to Kejriwal to consider his candidature because “of his ability to remember intricate details without having to refer to notes.” He tried to impress his bosses by claiming that “his sister-in-law was an AAP municipal councillor.” A senior AAP leader claimed that a cursory look at applications would leave one reeling with laughter.

‘Gandhigiri’ a surprise for Cong

Muktsar: Congress activists on Friday staged a protest outside the residence of BJP’s Muktsar district president Satish Asija in Malout in favour of the farmers’ agitation. During the protest, the saffron party leader Som Kalra surprised everyone with his ‘Gandhigiri’. As a courtesy, Kalra gave water bottles to protesters sitting on dharna there. This left some protesters speechless as they had not expected this.

Judge with a difference

Gurdaspur: The rule is that members of the judiciary normally do not mingle with people. However, Gurdaspur District and Sessions Judge Rajinder Aggarwal has proved to be an exception. And it is always an exception that proves a rule. The other day he and his wife Reena Aggarwal visited the Preliminary Education Centre in Maan Kaur village where children of slum-dwellers study. The couple had brought baskets of fresh fruit much to the delight of the children. The judge told kids that the roots of education were bitter, but its fruit was sweet. These were indeed some pearls of wisdom. Now, kids are eagerly awaiting Aggarwal’s next visit.

Traffic rule violators get roses

Ferozepur: Taking commuters, especially youngsters by surprise, the police while exhibiting “Gandhigiri” on Valentine’s Day, offered roses to traffic rule violators instead of issuing challans to sensitise them about the importance of following road safety and other norms. Saumya Mishra, SSP, said the police had made special arrangements to streamlined traffic and special nakas were laid to prevent any kind of rowdy behaviour or misadventure on roads in wake of the Basant Panchmi festival and Valentine’s Day. The SSP said instead of acting tough against traffic rule violators, the police offered them flowers to make them aware about their mistakes and omissions related to speeding, triple riding and driving without helmets among others. However, those violating major rules were taken to task too, said Randhir Kumar SP (D). Gurmeet Singh, a local resident, said it was appreciable on the part of the police to launch such drives.

Honour for cop

Ferozepur: Bringing laurels to the Punjab Police, a Ferozepur cop Mohit Dhawan bagged top honour during the 67th All-India Police Duty Meet held at Lucknow. In all, 42 teams from various states, besides paramilitary forces and cops from special protection groups competed in various fields like observation, finger prints, scientific aid to the investigation and others during the meet. Inspector Mohit Dhawan bagged the top award in scientific aid to the investigation.