A group of local leaders from Nawanshahr, including ex-Congress MC chief Lalit Mohan Pathak (popularly known as Ballu), on Wednesday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of party’s state incharge Jarnail Singh. Not in terms with Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh, Ballu had not even got the MC councillor’s ticket in the elections held six months back and he had gone ahead and contested Independently, winning from Ward No. 12 with a good margin. He is a property dealer by profession. Another sitting councillor Balwinder Kaur, who too had been denied ticket in the Congress by the MLA, also joined AAP today. Retired DSP Mahinder Singh and ex-Youth Akali president, Nawanshahr, Lakhwinder Lakhi, were among others who moved to AAP. The party has been strengthening its base in the town, where from the previous candidate ex-MP Charanjit Channi had lost from AAP. Channi has since then left the party. Ballu today maintained that he did not get any assurance for any post from the party and he on his part offered full support to AAP.

Charuni lands up in controversy

During his Doaba tour on Tuesday, national president of BKU (Charuni) Gurnam Singh Charuni landed up in a controversy during a garlanding ceremony of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue in town. As Charuni walked up a staircase to reach out the statue of the architect of the Indian Constitution, he chose to remove garland from around his own neck and put it on the statue. He was accompanied by ex-BSP state chief Rachhpal Raju during the ceremony. As videos of the ceremony got circulated, the BSP leaders led by Dr Nachhatar Pal Singh condemned the action and lodged a complaint with SSP Alka Meena alleging dishonour of the revered national hero. Eventually, on Wednesday, Charuni chose to get out of the controversy by putting up his video on social media seeking an apology from all those who got hurt, especially those belonging to the dalit community.

Aditi tops with 97.4% in Class X, Mehak 2nd

A student of the local Cambridge School, Aditi Arora, has topped the district in the CBSE Class X results declared on Tuesday. She has scored 97.4 per cent. Mehak Verma from KC School came second with 96.4 per cent. Kanishka, also from Cambridge School obtained 94 per cent. Both her parents being doctors, Aditi Arora also wants to follow them and has taken admission in the medical stream. Her elder sister Kirti too has completed her MBBS. Mehak wants to be a CA and has opted for commerce stream in Plus One. Her father Deepak Verma works in the Health Department while her mother is serving as Dean in the KC Group of Institutions.

— Compiled by Deepkamal Kaur