Achance meeting between Indian cricket’s rising star Abhishek Sharma and Pakistan legend Wasim Akram in Dubai last Sunday went viral on social media. They both share a common thread — Amritsar. While Abhishek belongs to Amritsar, the ancestral village of Akram is Chawinda Devi near the holy city. Akram’s family had moved to Pakistan at the time of Partition. In their brief encounter, Akram praised Abhishek for his recent knock against England in Mumbai.

Honey trap in Haryana

The Horticulture Department was pressed into action last week to save bureaucrats at the Haryana Civil Secretariat from bee stings. Decked out in full gear, a brave squad of five persons tackled the hive crisis. After some heroic ladder-climbing and hive-removal, they collected 1 kg of honey, though there were 8-10 beehives. A senior bureaucrat, clearly a honey connoisseur, asked: “What’s the honey situation?” The answer: “Well, about 1 kg, but we lost some in the fall.” But, who ended up with the honey? That remains the mystery.

Bonhomie over?

Himachal’s Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh had endeared himself to the BJP when he took a harsh stand over the controversial Sanjauli mosque during the Assembly session last year. The bonhomie, though, is unlikely to survive the swipe the minister has taken at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Accusing him of opportunism, Singh said the PM himself wouldn’t know the state he was born in as he becomes the resident of every poll-bound state. As expected, BJP leaders are up in arms against him.

Baghel has his task cut out

Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, who is in charge of the Punjab Congress affairs, faces the twin challenge of curbing indiscipline and factionalism in the state unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly poll. The earlier attempts by another ex-CM, Harish Rawat, ahead of the 2022 poll, to call a truce between then heavyweights Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sunil Jakhar didn’t yield any result, costing the Congress the elections. Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping Baghel can turn around the party’s fortunes.

Drone trouble in Gurdaspur

Pakistan is trying every trick in the trade to send drones, heroin and arms into India. Earlier they used to send decoy drones, now they push into Indian airspace drones which fly more than 1 km high. With security agencies installing a GPS jammer in Amritsar, these unmanned aerial vehicles are now seen in Gurdaspur skies. One such device may be installed in Gurdaspur, but the problem is that it is very costly. With agencies not willing to dig deep into their pockets, the police in Gurdaspur have no option except to keep on fighting.

Simplicity over luxury

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian’s elder son, Sumeet, won many hearts this week after he travelled to Chandigarh from Bathinda on a bus. Though seen as a family with little airs and simple ways, Khudian had surprised everyone when he hosted a big fat wedding last November when his son tied the knot. With the celebrations long over, the family seems to be back to its old ways of simple living.