Narkanda: Unconcerned about the din of Punjab politics, former chief minister Amarinder Singh and his Pakistani journalist friend Aroosa Alam have been spotted cherry picking at the formers farmhouse near Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh.
A state police official, who did not want to be identified, said, Cpt Amarinder Singh and his Pakistani friend Aroosa have been holidaying for the past week at the Kadayali farmhouse near the tourist town of Narkanda. 
The chief minister owns the farmhouse that is surrounded by cherry orchard ready for harvest.
“It was after celebrating Aroosa’s birthday at Dochi farmhouse, near Chail, about a fortnight ago that the former Punjab chief minister and his lady friend moved to Kadayali,†said the police officer.
The Dochi property is also owned by the erstwhile scion of Patiala royal house. While Cpt Amarinder Singh in between has made one or two short trips to Punjab in the past fortnight, Aroosa has been staying put here in the hills.
On knocking at Amarinder Singh’s farm house, Chhindi, a personal security officer of the former chief minister let this correspondent know, “Maharaja ji is suffering from a severe backache and has not been meeting anybody.
He added that the former chief minister after having travelled by a back breaking road journey to Kadayali was recuperating and not meeting any guests.
A senior official of the central government, who turned up to pay a courtesy call, was also turned back by the security staff.
At ‘Thakur Cherry Stall’ set up on the highway passing along Amarinder Singh’s orchard, farm fresh cherry gift packs priced at Rs 225 per Kg have been put up for sale.
“It was only in the morning that we sent some freshly picked cherries for Madamji and Rajaji (Amarinder Singh),†said the sales boy at the stall.
The former chief minister had sold the cherry crop in the orchard by way of contract for Rs 14 lakhs, he revealed.
In the past Aroosa has publically denied being romantically involved with Amarinder saying, “It is not ‘pyaar’ (love) only dosti’ (friendship). He is my good friend and will remain so.â€
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
