Punjab Diary: Punjab’s “Khunda” politics are back

Muktsar: “Khunda” politics have returned to the state after a 12-year hiatus. Seniors use a wooden stick called a “khunda.” Former chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh used to carry a “khunda” when campaigning in the 2012 Assembly election. Currently, SAD head Sukhbir Singh Badal is spotted traveling the Punjab Bachao Yatra while toting a “khunda.” Amarinder used the term “khunda” twelve years ago in an attempt to intimidate the Akalis, but the Congress was not victorious in the poll. The Akali supremo is using the “khunda” this time; only time will tell how successful it is.

 

ED raid results in IAS lobby mum

Gurdaspur: When the ED searched Ferozepur DC Rajesh Dhiman’s home, public officials were left in silence. Officers from the IAS and IPS were reluctant to answer calls, especially from the media. There was a Sphinx-like quiet with every call. It is well known that bureaucrats prefer to close ranks when they are under assault from outside the lobby. Thus, one must see their connection in order to believe it. How far they would go to protect their troubled colleague from Ferozepur is still up for debate.

Contestants for tickets switch tracks

Batala: Attempts were made by both pretenders and candidates for the AAP ticket to secure the party’s nomination for the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat. That was up until the day the ED arrested their leader, Arvind Kejriwal; at that point, they had to make a change of direction. Most of them said that they would rather not advocate for the ticket the way things were going. A few of them, who had previously been ardent supporters of Kejri, were even considering switching sides. Is anybody familiar with the films “Thodisi Befawaii” and “Badalte Rishtey” from the 1980s?

A breath of calm

Pathankot: Actor Kangana Ranaut was first invited to run from Gurdaspur, therefore BJP members were relieved to learn that she would now be asked to run from Mandi! Party members claim that Ms. Ranaut was the last person they wanted and that they are still unable to repair the harm caused by Sunny Deol, another Bollywood star. With a few notable exceptions, the general perception is that celebrities don’t usually make excellent lawmakers.

Mann is made fun of by Channi.

Jalandhar: While visiting Jalandhar this week, reporters questioned former chief minister Charanjit Channi on CM Bhagwant Mann’s recent baby announcement. Channi wasted no opportunity to poke fun at Mann. He said that Mann had made a statement about it during the R-Day gathering, and that this was maybe the only promise he had kept in the previous two years!

breaching standards with impunity

Patiala: The Punjabi government published a notice in 2017 restricting the usage of flashing lights on top of automobiles, regardless of color. But in Patiala, some officials and their family still break the rules. Officers have sometimes begun to use similar lights on their own cars, particularly SUVs. On city roadways, a car with bright lights being driven by a freshly posted SHO and another by an AIG-ranked officer may be spotted.