Prodigal sons? not here

CHANDIGARH: Famous sons haven't really risen in the brawn-happy lands of Punjab and Haryana. A quick stock-taking of the past — and present — shows Venod Sharma in stellar company. Because, sons of powerful fathers in the region have often brought disgrace to their families. Some have, in fact, brought their fathers down with such a thud that they have stayed that way.
Manu Sharma's conviction will probably irreparably damage the otherwise promising career of his father, who had to resign recently from Haryana government — due to his son's brutal crime.The conviction may set him back further. However, he could draw some consolation, if that could be said, from the dark list of sons who have done no good to their families. If anything, the list has the names of many who have been more illustrious than Venod.
In Haryana, two sons, Ajay and Abhay Chautala, of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, often brought him political embarrassment. Among several unsavoury controversies, Abhay was linked to cricket match fixers and his betting which ran into crores. Chautala was the CM in Haryana then. Many of Chautala's detractors blamed the shenanigans of his sons for the humiliating defeat that followed.
Interestingly, this went up a generation. For good measure, even Chautala was publicly disowned by his father Devi Lal, former deputy PM, due to his "errant" ways before they came together. Chautala had allegedly smuggled gold watches worth Rs 10,000. This was in 1977.
Even the likes of Bansi Lal, who enjoyed the image of a clean and no-nonsense administrator, had to face some political discomfort due to his son Surinder Singh. Later there was a patch-up after Surinder ''grew up'' to become a more mature politician. He died in a chopper crash later.
Politician fathers have little to cheer about in neighbouring Punjab too. Chief minister Amarinder Singh had a tough time defending himself when the"Intranet scam" cropped up, which was allegedly a brainchild of his son Raninder Singh. And much like his good friend Chautala, Parkash Singh Badal also faced political barbs and finally defeat in the election amidst allegations that his family members, including his son and political heir Sukhbir Singh Badal, were striking rich behind-the-scene deals.
More seriously, Gurkirat Singh, the grandson of late chief minister Beant Singh, was accused of molesting a French
girl in Chandigarh in the early 90s. Beant Singh was chief minister then. The girl, Katia, never returned from France to depose and Gurkirat was acquitted.
The latest, of course, is the ongoing rape case against Gaganjit Sigh Barnala.