Who is next PM? Manmohan or Badal

The political winds blowing in country has gripped everyone including the rural folks. As contenders from various political parties come forward to file their nomination papers, even poor farmers, elderly and village children in Punjab villages are discussing politics these days.

Unlike urban folks, villagers especially woman and elderly farmers choose amusing topics to discuss.

Its more Badal versus Captain in Punjab than SAD versus Congress. People have arguments over preference of their candidates and even stop talking to best of their friends if they have different opinions.



Though they fail to name a single contestant fighting from their constituency but they were keen to vote Congress and Akali’s as per their choices. Many of them were not aware of fact that these are general elections wherein the Prime Minister is elected by the MP’s in center. They were seen discussing about the next Mukh Mantri (chief minister).

When I asked an elderly whom will he vote this time, he said Captain Amarinder Singh. Another said he will vote for Badal. When enquired about Congress and Akali candidates from their constituency they did not answer but said “appan tan bus punje te mohar la auni ae bhalan di koi hoya” (we will put a stamp on congress party whosoever will be the candidate). Similar was the answer of Akali supporter.

Strangely both the supporters were in favour of Dr. Manmohan as next PM. But neither of them was aware of fact that if they vote for Akali’s, then their very dear Manmohan will lose his PM ship.

Contemplating over their amusing remarks I drove back home where a friend of my wife from Australia said “Lets hope this time Captain Amrinder comes to power and vote the Akali’s out.” And she is a working woman in Adelaide.

Interestingly yet another one added, “Manmohan tan Punjab da puttar e. Ohni tan sare Punjabi vote paunge. Jehdiyan votan bach gaiyan, oh Akaliyan nu jaangiyan.” (Manmohan is son of Punjab. Every Punjabi will vote for him and the rest votes will go to Akalis) and summed up the hectic democratic exercise.

Lift please. No please

Long distance travels get monotonous. Especially when one is alone. In my bid to have company and out of sympathy for people standing under sun, roadside, I have this itching habit of giving them lift.

While the younger ones thank profusely, the elders shower blessings. But there is yet another category of “lift takers” who consider this little service as their right.

These are our very own Punjab police cops. At Chandigarh, I had the privilege to have four men in khakhi in my car. Unlike their Punjab police colleagues, the UT cops quietly descended from the vehicle, thanked me and were off to their work. More than five times I have rode the khakhi and have honor of escorting them.

Encouraged by this, I decided to give lift to yet another group - albeit group was from Punjab police with an under trial in a police case being taken to court. As we started towards out destination, one of the cops ordered me to switch on the AC, and pat came another order to slow down.

As if this was not enough, I had a flat tyre. Now it was that culprit’s turn to do me a favor. The cops removed his handcuff so that he can “assist” me to fix flat tyre. After nearly half and hour of grueling under the sun, one of the potbellied cops turned to me and said, “See. Had we not been there, who would have helped you? You should be thankful to us.”

As we packed up and resumed our journey, they asked me to drop at specified destination, that was kilometers away from mine. And I had to oblige them.

Now the moment I see men in khakhi waving for a lift, I speed up my car. Perhaps I am once bitten, twice shy.