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Onkar Singh in Chandigarh
Whatever may be the outcome of the assembly polls in Punjab, the people of the state may well remember it with a smile for the colour added to it by noted television personality and humour king of Punjab Jaspal Bhatti.
Known for his television programmes Ulta Pulta and Flop-Show, Bhatti brought some comic relief to the people of the state who are tired of the empty promises of the political parties.
Lampooning the growing corruption in the state, Bhatti announced the formation of a new political party called the Punjab Suitcase Party.
"I have decided to allot first five tickets to the members of my own family," Bhatti announced to bemused onlookers. "Tickets for my wife, son and three brother-in-laws will be reserved for all future elections," he said.
His slogans had the onlookers in splits.
"Suitcaisan dee sarkar chaubees ghante khulla darbar (A government of the suitcase is open 24 hours for those who have suitcases to offer)," was greeted with howls of laughter wherever Bhatti repeated it.
Elaborating his party's agenda Bhatti coined another slogan: "Bring your bag filled with notes and the work will get done in a jiffy."
Bhatti also asked his followers to crown him and bestow the title of Maharajah so that he could loot the people at will.
"The basic idea behind these gimmicks is to expose the hollowness of our political system and the growing corruption in the administration particularly at the highest level," Bhatti told rediff.com, when asked why he resorted to launching his own party at a time when there are too many parties in the fray already.
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