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Shimlas reputation for hosting contemplative meetings is getting stronger by the day. Right from the days of the Raj,when it served as the capital of British...

Lets think in Shimla
Shimlas reputation for hosting contemplative meetings is getting stronger by the day. Right from the days of the Raj,when it served as the capital of British,Shimlas salubrious environment seems to favour deep insightful thinking. No wonder,after the 1971 war,Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Bhutto,tried to find a solution there. More recently,the BJP organised its chintan baithak at the Himachal Tourisms complex,Peterhoff. Now the grapevine is abuzz that even the Shiromani Akali Dal is planning to hold its own chintan baithak. Slated for sometime in September or October,this meeting which would feature the top leaders of the party,would be organised in Shimla.

All play,no work
The Punjab government had an extended weekend this time. Courtesy the birth anniversary of Baba Srichand,a holiday was declared on Friday. Interestingly,the anniversary date was earlier in September,but some discrepancy in the Gregorian calendar and the Sikh calendar led to a change in the date. The fact,that the new date happened to be a Friday could have been a pleasant coincidence,but there is something patently wrong in so many holidays. The memories of revered people from the past,certainly need to be respected. But granting a holiday is no way to commemorate. We dont think that even Gurus,who were the embodiments of hard work,honesty and empathy,would have advised our babus to go on long weekends,especially,when so many issues pertaining to the common man await their attention.

Cooling effect
If you are a government employee and wish to enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioner in the office,get yourself attached in the personal staff of a senior official,irrespective of your entitlement. Recently,Assistant Estate Officer Hargunjit Kaur got an air-conditioner installed,not only in her office,but also in her Personal Assistants office,who is not at all entitled to the same. When checked from the Finance Department,it was found that Kaur had not got any approval for the same.
The Finance Secretary clarified that Kaur had taken an approval. However,he failed to justify as to how a PA became entitled to an air-conditioner. In fact,the personal staff of all the senior officials of the UT Administration are sitting in air-conditioned rooms,while people senior to them dont even have the facility of well functioning ceiling fans in their office.

Double standards
While the HUDA authorities claim to have zero tolerance for encroachments,they tend to have double standards when it comes to their own officials. SC,Mehta who works as an SDO with HUDA in Ambala is one such example. Mehtas house in Panchkula is an epitome of violations. He has installed a mobile tower on the top of his house and a vacant plot next to his house has been converted into a personal garden. Rather than shying away from this,Mehta proudly claims that the garden has been prepared for him by the HUDA staff.

Promises
With elections to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha round the corner,political parties are promising moon to the people. Never mind if the same parties forget their promises once the elections are over. While the ruling Congress party in the state has been harping over about its developmental activities in the last four and a half years and promising to carry forward the good work,the opposition Indian National Lok Dal has gone a step ahead and announced a bonanza of schemes including a low powered scooter for girl students. They (INLD) know very well they will not be able to come to power. So whats the harm in announcing all sorts of sops? quipped a Congressman.

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CN heard

Shimlas reputation for hosting contemplative meetings is getting stronger by the day. Right from the days of the Raj,when it served as the capital of British...

Shimlas reputation for hosting contemplative meetings is getting stronger by the day. Right from the days of the Raj,when it served as the capital of British...