Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 21

As Education Minister OP Soni was to attend the function of a private academy, Sophia Institute of Excellency, organised at the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, owner of the institute pastor Ankur Narula kept him waiting at the venue for over 45 minutes.

While the function was scheduled for 2 pm, the minister arrived at 2:45 pm. Not only the minister but also Congress MLA Rajinder Beri and Mayor Jagdish Raja kept waiting for the host, Pastor Narula, who finally made it to the spot at 3:30 pm.

Despite being made to wait for long, the minister did not show any signs of being perturbed. Instead, he kept showering praises for the pastor all throughout his speech.

“He is getting our 10 government schools renovated. Within a month, half of the work has already been done by his team,” the minister said.

Pastor Narula, who represents a Pentecostal church at Khambra village and is into miracle healing, had recently opened a private academy for IAS coaching. While all signages across the area mentioned that the institute was offering free of cost coaching, the owner announced that the fee waiver was only for meritorious students.