Bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi left the Gurdaspur administration in a difficult position last week by insisting that his nearly Rs 40 lakh fee be paid before he would take the stage. With AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal scheduled to attend the event as the chief guest, officials rushed to arrange the money to avoid the embarrassment of a cancellation. The standoff ended only after officials wrote the cheque.
Bajrang Dal's Katiyar Back in News Amid Ram Mandir Donation Row
Bajrang Dal co-founder and former Faizabad MP Vinay Katiyar has resurfaced in the news amidst the Ram Mandir donation controversy. Sidelined from the Mandir movement by Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and his associates, Katiyar is now making public statements against his Sangh Parivar rival. He stirred controversy this week by claiming he had a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the temple theft issue, after which things began to move.
Vice-President Thanks Ganesh Beedi for Decades of RSS Support
Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan revealed this week that for decades, RSS-linked magazines shared a common feature: a rear flap advertisement of Karnataka-based Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works, makers of India's largest hand-rolled beedi brand, 501 Ganesh Beedi. 'This is the only advertisement RSS journals ever had. One is thankful to Ganesh Beedi for their support,' the Vice-President said, speaking at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the RSS journal, the Organiser.
Woman Wins Zila Parishad Chair, but Husband Gets Spotlight
The Muktsar Zila Parishad recently elected Gurbinder Kaur Brar as its chairperson. However, congratulatory hoardings were put up in the name of her husband, Kulwinder Singh Brar, an AAP leader. Some locals commented that true gender equality will come only when women are recognised for their own achievements, not through the identity of the men in their families.
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation: Plans Plenty, Funds Missing
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation appears to have mastered paperwork: 389 proposals drafted, 310 taken up, 79 still pending, but hardly any funds to execute them. Development remains confined to files, with projects awaiting finances even as elections draw closer. While legislators press for action, residents continue to grapple with potholes, clogged drains, and stalled works. In Ludhiana, announcements seem easier than execution.
Congress Defeat in Solan Mayoral Election Highlights Internal Issues
The Congress party's defeat in the Solan Municipal Corporation mayoral election has left leaders searching for answers. While the BJP swiftly secured an Independent councillor's support, the Congress remained hamstrung by internal differences. The lone consolation was that all six Congress councillors stayed united during the mayoral contest, as asserted by Health and Family Welfare Minister DR Shandil, though his own vote proved futile for the second time.
Congress MLAs Get Fair Hearing on Anti-Sacrilege Law at Akal Takht
In a rare departure from the past, Congress MLAs were given substantial opportunity to present their views on the contentious 2026 anti-sacrilege law at the June 29 meeting of Sikh legislators convened by Akal Takht Officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj at the Golden Temple complex. The Congress members presented their views without interruption. However, some AAP legislators drew the Jathedar's ire after attempting to interrupt them and accusing the Congress of politicising the issue.
These stories were contributed by Ravi Dhaliwal, Aditi Tandon, Archit Watts, Manav Mander, Ambika Sharma, and GS Paul.
