On birthday,Badal has his hands full

Having lost his wife Surinder Kaur this year,the chief minister except for visiting an old age home in Muktsar has no other celebrations planned.

At the district level,however,party office-bearers are holding small functions to celebrate his birthday. One such function is organised by Jails and Tourism Minister Hira Singh Garbria at Labour Chowk—”…to offer thanks… for giving us a leader like senior Badal and pray for his good health.”

But this time around,the grand old man of Punjab politics may not really have a happy birthday. Punjab EGS Teachers’ Union president Pritpal Singh along with 10 unemployed teachers have threatened self-immolation outside Sukhbir’s house in Chandigarh. This,Pritpal says,is their gift to the chief minister who despite having made promises in 2003,failed to provide them jobs.

With the slapping incident by a local Akali leader and sarpanch Baljinder Singh in Muktsar of a lady teacher and protests and lathicharge on EGS teachers,the issue seems far from over for Badal.

Also,Punjab Journalists’ Union is holding a black badge day and will form a human chain outside the DC office in the city to protest against failed promises made by the chief minister.