Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal's visit to the mini-secretariat in Patiala, while the newly inducted Deepinder Singh Dhillon took office of the chairman of the district planning committee, may have enthused the party rank and file, but it put common visitors on Monday to profuse discomfiture.
Routine work in all offices remained suspended for the entire day because of the high profile visit; Sukhbir Badal arrived three hours late than the scheduled time of 11am.
Because of the heavy security on all the gates of the mini-secretariat, common visitors found it really hard to enter the complex. The participation of many a senior district official in the arrangement of the visit added to the miseries of the visitors.
"I am trying to enter the suvidha centre from the last three hours, but the security-men deputed there are not allowing me for security reasons. I will have to again come to Patiala on Tuesday to get my licence," said Harminder Singh Chandok from Patran. He came traveling nearly 67-km.
Dhillon supporters also organised a thanksgiving rally in the mini-secretariat, which was addressed by Sukhbir Badal.
{{/usCountry}}Dhillon supporters also organised a thanksgiving rally in the mini-secretariat, which was addressed by Sukhbir Badal.
{{/usCountry}}The rally also blocked the movement of routine visitors in the complex, as the entire area between blocks B and C remained closed till 3.30pm.
"Wherever these high-profile personalities visit, common people become the real victims. First, I was told last Friday that officers were busy in the Republic Day rehearsals; today, I was not allowed to enter the complex till the deputy CM did not leave," said Parminder Singh from Nabha.
Because of the delay in the arrival of the deputy CM, the one-hour function, which should have ended by noon, had to be extended by four hours.