Punjab Diary: Not many willing to play ball

Gurdaspur: Navjot Singh Sidhu is indeed an enigma. During his cricket playing days, Commentator Harsha Bhogla had once said, “Sidhu possesses the mind of a poet and the hardness of a rock.” He used to be calm, composed and rarely blew a fuse. Above all, he was an introvert. The exigencies of political life have meant all these qualities got reversed with time. These days he is playing the rebel and is addressing gatherings sans the permission of his party. After holding rallies at Bathinda and Hoshiarpur, he is now finding some loyalists who can arrange an event for him in Gurdaspur. His problem is that not many local Congressmen are willing to play ball.

Bid to infuse life into 3Ts

Pathankot: This scenic city was once famous for timber, tourism and transport businesses. Over the years, following an assortment of reasons, the three Ts as they are known in local parlance, were wiped off the map of the city. The once flourishing businesses in the Ts had started floundering in the mid-nineties. And till yet the rot continues. Now, businessmen have hit on a novel idea. They say they will be preparing a charter of demands which will be given to candidates of political parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. Votes will be cast in favour of only those candidates who are ready to infuse life into the Ts. Otherwise, NOTA’s button will be pressed on the EVM.

Who will blink first?

Batala: The road branching off from the Gurdaspur-Batala national highway to the city has become a virtual death trap. Police sources claim more than 50 deaths have occurred in the last three years due to its faulty design. Jagjot Sandhu, an RTI activist, has taken up cudgels on behalf of harried commuters. Based on one of his letters, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had even declared the area a highly accident prone area. The NHAI mandarins say PSPCL is the villain because it is not willing to remove high-voltage poles located in the vicinity of the area. Neither the NHAI nor the PSPCL is willing to blink. And till one blinks, accidents will continue to take place.

Politics or faith?

Amritsar: Much to the discomfort of the Opposition parties, volunteers are distributing invitation cards door-to-door to attend the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The Opposition parties complain that ahead of the 2024 General election, an atmosphere is being created in favour of the BJP. An invitation card, a leaflet containing details of the temple and rice are being distributed to people of all faiths.