Chandigarh Confidential

CM Badal goes global

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal seems to no more restrict his vision to just the state or even the country. During a recent press conference in Amritsar,when he was asked about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state,he,to their surprise,said that compared to situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan,it is far better in Punjab. “The situation is too bad in our two neighboring countries. Even within the country,we are much better in comparison to states such as Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Badal went on to elaborate that there is no threat of terrorism in Punjab and the state is one of the most peaceful ones. When he was told the reference was to the rising crime graph,he again went global. “There are pickpockets,chain snatchers and robbers even in USA and Canada,” pat came the reply. Outwit or be modest,either way,the CM is known to get away from answering tough questions all the time.

BJP’s two ‘colours’

The last Cabinet rejig swung the fortunes of a Punjab IFS officer like a palm tree. When Tikshan Sud was the forest minister,Dr Sanjiv Tiwari,the district forest officer of Ferozepur,had constantly faced the fear of transfer,as he was giving sleepless nights to well-connected fishing mafia,encroachers and poachers active in Harike. However,when Arunesh Shakir got the forest and wildlife portfolio,Tiwari was felicitated for the exemplary work he did to save the Harike wetland. Besides an appreciation certificate that was given to him by Chief Wildlife Warden Gurbaz Singh,Shakir announced on a television programme that he will be given an award of Rs 5,100. Interestingly,both Shakir and Sud are BJP ministers. Seems there are more hues to the BJP than saffron.

Rewarding silence

It is said silence is golden. In Punjab Congress,it also means winning plum posts within party organisation. It is learnt that MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira too figured in the original list sent by state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh for the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. But his name was missing in the list released by party in-charge Gulchain Singh Charak. Capt was quick to shoot off a fresh list of those “left out” owing to the high command’s move to appease different factions. But this time,Khiara was out. The reason: His outburst against the Captain. “Khaira was very much there and would have been again included in new list had he not spoken against the captaincy of Amarinder,” said a party insider. Knowing Khiara,he would be happier being out of the list than keeping silent on “unfair” treatment.

Tennis ‘doubles’

It is a problem of plenty. Both of space and time. The sprawling inner courtyard in Haryana Vigilance Bureau’s office in Panchkula now doubles up as a tennis court. The vigilance officers do not mind staying back after office hours to stay fit and beat the stress. After all,the love of tennis in Haryana is flowing right from the top. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda went all the way to London to watch Wimbledon. Wonder what their Punjab counterparts have to say. The luxury is too much to ask for. Unlike Haryana,many Punjab offices continue to run from crammed showroom spaces in Chandigarh. And the last thing on Punjab vigilance officer’s mind is playing ball.