Chandigarh confidential

Mind over Moustache

While the Congress has planned public screening of expletives hurled by Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the Assembly, the idea is causing a little discomfort to the main actor of the script. Angered by Majithia's insinuation to tear off his moustache, Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh told the media that in case the expletives were telecast, he was not scared of Majithia but of what the people will think of him. "The people will think that a dabbang man like me was threatened and abused in the House. Wearing a moustache is a big honour. I am a Sikh and Majithia represents SAD, a predominantly Sikh party. While the Akal Takht should expel him from the religion, SAD should do the same," he added.

Dinner diplomacy for 'bad' PR

As the Punjab Assembly session progressed amid expletives, media briefings and boycott by the opposition, Bikram Singh Majithia's public relations department kept hosting the media everyday for lunches and dinners. After a particular press briefing went awry, with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asking a woman journalist to repeat the expletive, many in the media "seemed" outraged. As the government went into damage control mode by sending invites for dinner at a five-star hotel, many mediapersons decided to boycott the event. However, just a few stood their ground and the others could not resist Badal's hospitality. The result: The PR department, which at one time wanted to cancel the dinner fearing media boycott, "managed" good numbers despite bad public relations.

Senior Badal in a quandary

The buzz word in the corridors of power in Punjab is that the cuss word used by Minister Bikram Singh Majithia for Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh has "compromised" the position of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The CM's deafening silence on the day of the incident surprised many though he attempted to make it up the next day by describing the entire incident as "unfortunate". However, a Congress MLA did attempt to rub it in by saying — "Badal Badnam Hua, Majithia Tere Liye'' during a candlelight protest march of the party.

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