Regional buzz: Dharna jibes at Shukhbir, Badal’s brotherly love and journalist’s empty chairs stunt in Rohtak

Keeping tabs on power politics in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Sukhbir faces dharna jibes

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal spent the night at a dharna site near Harike Bridge against the alleged police “excesses” on his party leaders, but it does not seem to have won him any admirers. The social media users are taking jibes at the SAD chief, reminding him of an earlier statement, “Jehre ghron vehlarh han ya ghron kaddhe han, oh dharnean te aa k beh jande han” (Those who have no work to do or been thrown out of the house come and stage dharnas). They are making mockery of photos posted on social media sites in which Sukhbir and other Akali leaders, including MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, are shown as sleeping at the dharna site.

‘No need of warm clothes’

Sukhbir was charged up after the core committee meeting of his party on Sunday. “Ehe case taan khurak ney Akali Dal vastey, sanu takat mitdi hai (These cases are a normal diet for the Akalis. We get energy from these). But Capt Saab (CM Captain Amarinder Singh) is mistaken that we can be bowed down by such cases,” he said with most top party leaders sitting beside him. When a party leader asked him to wear some warm clothes, Sukhbir said that “false” cases registered by the Congress have generated enough heat. “I don’t need to wear warm clothes,” he added.

Badals’ brotherly love

That they have gone their separate ways after differences cropped up between their sons is no secret, but the bond between former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal (Pash) and his brother Gurdas Singh Badal (Das) remains strong. The ex-CM never says anything against his brother. At a function held in Badal village to celebrate his 90th birthday, Badal was asked about Gurdas’ absence. “Mainu pyar karda hai. Koi majboori hou nhi aya, koi gal nhi (He loves me. There must be something unavoidable due to which he couldn’t come. No issues)” was his response.

Luring tactics work

During their seven-hour road blockade near the Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana, Akali leaders had a hard time ensure that their supporters sit at one place. As the workers either kept roaming around or sat in small groups munching on groundnuts, former MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali and ex-councillor Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal came up with a strategy. They lured with the chance to hold the microphone. “Everyone will get to address the gathering,” they said. The response was prompt as many of them sat down immediately and started waiting for their turn to speak. They did get to deliver speeches, but only after all senior SAD leaders had addressed the workers.

Room-sharing for babus

The upcoming three-day “Chintan Shivir”, organised by the BJP government in Haryana, has thrown a peculiar situation for the officials. The “shivir”, which is being held at upscale Timber Trail Resort near Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh, will see IAS officers sharing rooms for two nights. The sharing has been planned keeping in view the high tariffs and availability of rooms at the resort. While many are not comfortable with the room sharing idea, there is nothing much they can do.

AAP for stricter action against Fortis

The shoddy functioning of Fortis hospital in Gurugram that led to death of a seven-year-old girl and its exorbitant treatment charges of ₹16 lakh jolted the state government in Haryana last week. Though action was taken against the hospital, the state unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was not satisfied. It expressed surprise why hospital licence was not cancelled. The party leaders have threatened to gherao health minister Anil Vij’s residence if the government does not cancel the licence in a week’s time.

Scribe’s empty chairs stunt

Former home minister Subhash Batra was at his casual best with journalists during his recent rally in Rohtak, which was attended by Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar and Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry. When a journalist started taking photo of empty chairs at the rally, a miffed Batra shouted at him from the dais: “You didn’t click the photo when people were sitting here. Now that they have got up to have food, you have taken out your camera”. Another journalist who was laughing at this incident became Batra’s next target. “I will check your write-up and ensure no mention is made of empty chairs,” the Congress leader shouted, leaving a thousand-strong crowd in splits.

(Contributed by Surjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Sarbmeet Singh, Tarsem Singh Deogan, Hitender Rao, Rajesh Moudgil, Hardik Anand)