'Witty' Badal snubs son's father-in-law

In a virtual snub to his son's father-in-law, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday noted how much his family has benefited under his dispensation.

Addressing the gathering at the 108th convocation of Amritsar's historic Khalsa College, Badal virtually snubbed his son, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's father-in-law Satyajit Singh Majithia, in the presence of various dignitaries, including union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Asked by Majithia, who is the chairman of the Khalsa College governing council, for a grant for the institution, Badal in his witty but firm style said: "I have been criticised for what I have done for you (Majithia). I have made your son (Bikram Singh Majithia) a cabinet minister, your daughter (Harsimrat Kaur Badal) is a union minister, and your son-in-law (Sukhbir Singh Badal) is the deputy CM."

"You are the only person in the country whose son, daughter and son-in-law are holding such powerful positions," he said.

Badal further remarked that the Majithia family was enjoying "maximum benefits of power".

Having said all this, Badal still announced a Rs.50 lakh grant for the college from the Punjab government.