Punjab Diary: CM Bhagwant Mann walks down memory lane

Interacting with police personnel during an event to flag off police vehicles at the Phillaur Police Academy recently, CM Bhagwant Mann remembered his early days as a comedian. Addressing SHOs, the CM said, “I have worn your vardi (uniform) many times in the comedy show ‘Jugnu Hazir Hai’. The previous governments used to give uniforms of substandard material. We have engaged self-help groups in Sangrur to provide good quality uniforms.”

Gurdaspur another El Dorado?

Devotees returning from Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor often recount stories of how the Pakistani government has started testing for hydrocarbons in the area near the shrine. Hydrocarbons are naturally-occurring entities that form the basis of crude oil, natural gas and other energy sources. This has made Gurdaspur residents an excited lot. The area, where Pakistan is trying to extract oil, is barely 10 km away from Dera Baba Nanak. Locals want the ONGC to start testing for hydrocarbons in Gurdaspur district too. Who knows oil reserves may be detected and the city may well become another El Dorado.

Malout boy in fray for student poll in Canada

Hailing from Malout, 22-year-old Tikka Jai Singh Sodhi, who completed his schooling from Mohali, is contesting the election for the post of vice-president (administration) of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia. The society was formed about a century ago. The elections are being held online from March 1 to 8. Nearly 60,000 students are the registered voters. The boy has earlier served as president of the shooting club of the university. He was member of the junior India team in pistol shooting and won several medals.

Cong leaders in a tizzy over SAD-BJP talks

Punjab Congress leaders are in a tizzy over reports of BJP-SAD alliance talks being renewed in the comings days. Senior party leaders feel that though the ongoing farmers agitation could discourage SAD from going along with BJP as sentiments of the farming community is against the saffron party, the alliance (if it happens) will alter the dimensions of the state politics in the coming parliamentary elections. Party leaders feel that in the changing political scenario, the election strategy needs to be reworked.

Beautification or wastage of public money?

The Amritsar Improvement Trust constructed a fountain in the Nehru Shopping Complex on Lawrence Road for the purpose of beautification. However, within a month of its construction, fountain nozzles were stolen by unscrupulous elements. Though Trust Chairman Ashok Talwar assured to get it repaired, nothing has been done to date. Shopkeepers in the complex call it a sheer wastage of public money.