Chandigarh confidential

Babus,bugs and more

After a less than auspicious start to its second innings,the Badal regime seems to have sworn its babus to secrecy. The latest to have been bit by the “I don’t know and if I do,I don’t care” bug is Punjab Food and Supply secretary D S Grewal. The officer now refrains from even taking calls from the media and only responds to an SMS by directing all queries to the public relations department. Some other babus have gone tight-lipped fearing that even their offices are “bugged.” All that secrecy,however,doesn’t seem to keeping the bad omens at bay as the government battles one problem after another. Lesson for our babus: when it comes to government affairs,transparency is the best policy.

More power for babus

Babus are set to enjoy more powers as the government has decided to revive all the 28 Improvement Trusts in Punjab and is set to appoint deputy commissioners and other officers,serving as administrators,as chairpersons of these trusts. The government had dissolved the Improvement Trusts on July 11,2012. The deputy commissioners were deputed as administrators at the districts headquarters while SDMs were given charge of the dissolved Improvement Trusts at the sub-divisional level.

Tired but not retired

The Punjab government’s decision to award a one-year extension to its employees retiring between October 31 and September 30,next year,has been welcomed by some but has come as a disappointment for others. While a few officers,who were heads of departments,chief engineers,superintending engineers and were to retire this month,will now continue for another year,their juniors,who were to replace them on promotion,are unhappy. Most will not be promoted for a year and worse will be retiring with their bosses next year.

Who is the spokesperson?

How many spokespeople does the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) have? The press secretary to state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh issues press statements on his own and PPCC’s behalf. A former MLA also releases press statements on a daily basis on behalf of the party,despite not being authorised to do so. Apart from this,a first time MLA also releases statements on behalf of the party with quotes from a few MLAs,thus making everyone wonder as to who the actual spokesperson is.

Settling old scores

The alleged abduction of a minor girl in Faridkot by 18-year-old Nishan Singh has forced the region’s politicians,particularly those of the ruling party,to scurry for cover. The case has also provided a fertile ground for factions of the SAD (B) to throw muck at each other,over who offered Nishan Singh patronage. While three local Akali leaders having already been questioned by the police,the rumour doing the rounds is that very soon,a senior Akali leader considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,could find himself in hot water. Pressure has reportedly been mounting on these leaders to either produce the boy or face the law. While the leaders may not directly have anything to do with the kidnapping,they are being accused of having used Nishan Singh,who has 17 cases against him,to settle scores in the past.

Making life simpler

With the Punjab government clamping down on those accused of developing illegal colonies, revenue from the registration of sale deeds has witnessed an almost 30 per cent fall as compare to the corresponding period last year. This,has forced the cash-strapped Punjab government,which is funding its expenditure almost on a day-to-day basis,to look for a middle path – something which can prevent a loss of face and bring in revenue. Now it has been reliably learnt that the government has found the much-sought after middle path. It is allowing registration of sale deeds by taking affidavits from buyers and sellers that the land involved is not part of an illegal colony.

From your pocket,Sir!

Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta,who kept her word and did not contest the previous Assembly elections,definitely possesses more guts than most of her party colleagues in the state. She recently took on Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal over his donation of Rs 1 crore to his alma mater,Lawrence School in Sanawar. Stating that there nothing wrong in donating to one’s alma mater,Kanta pointed out that Sukhbir should have give the money from his personal finances,which are by no means wanting.

Please,My Lord

After having taken due permission from the Court to assist in Hindi,a Haryana Police official could not control his anxiety when the Bench suggested that vehicles,taking a U-turn on the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway to enter Ambience Mall,should be stopped. Softly,the police official submitted: “Sir,aapne toh permission dedi hindi mein baat karne ke liye,wahan toh bina permission ke english mein gaaliyan dete hain. Hamari to samajh mein bhi nahin aati hain (Sir,you permitted me to converse in Hindi but commuters without seeking permission abuse us in English on the Expressway. We cannot even comprehend what they speak in English).” The lawyers,who earlier had a verbal altercation,and those present in Court burst into laughter and so did the two High Court judges. After a hearty laugh,the Bench jokingly asked the official to give it back to them (abuse) in Haryanvi.

Parliament ka kya pata?

The Congress’ own ministers have now publicly started admitting that an air of uncertainity hangs over the continuation of the UPA-II government at the Centre. In a recent public function at Kurukshetra,where Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha shared the dias with Congress MP Naveen Jindal,Chattha appealed to the audience to strengthen Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s hands. While demanding support for Hooda,Chattha,probably ended up biting more than he could chew. “Aap sab Hooda ji ke haath aur majboot karo; pehle bhi karte aaye ho,aur karo; baaki Parliament ka kya pata,kab chunav aa jaye” (All of you must strengthen your support for Hooda,which you had been doing; as you never know when Parliament will go to polls). While the Congress leadership at the Centre,has been vehemently denying suggestions of mid-term polls,its own ministers at state-level seem to know better.