Lassi and Las Vegas? That's the combination Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is promising his state. His latest proposal to introduce casinos in Punjab formed a key element in his tourism policy unveiled last week. His argument: "If Punjabis can enjoy casinos in other states and countries, why should they not be provided this fun in their home state?"

So far, only Goa has an off-shore casino while Haryana's plans seem to have stalled. The Amarinder Government has been working on the casino idea since a Canadian firm sent a proposal a few months ago. Tourism authorities are now working overtime to draft the Punjab Casinos Act-a carbon copy of the bill in Haryana-to facilitate licensing of gambling centres. The state Home Department is preparing the amendments required in the Gambling Act.

It is, however, a gamble. Already, the move has stirred the political pot, with opposition parties vowing not to allow casinos in the state. "We will oppose the proposal tooth and nail," says senior Akali leader Captain Kanwaljit Singh. As the controversy builds, the dice seems loaded against Amarinder even before it is rolled.

-Ramesh Vinayak

Spend for pleasure: More than the need for a product or service, consumers lay greater emphasis on the experience and enjoyment that come with it. Enjoying the pleasures of life and the dreams that come true with the help of brands, new products and services are the fresh priorities for Indians.

Family as brand: There is a growing trend among Indians to project a specific family image with the family increasingly being treated as a brand. Also, the study finds that Indians are taking life as it comes, rather than trying to direct their lives.

More from a rupee: Although people are willing to spend money, their expectations of the returns from every rupee are much higher than earlier. Consumers are seeking better deals and better bargains. They are looking to get more than they bargained for, not just from a product but also from the experience.

-Malini Goyal

NO CAKEWALK: Bharati calls for a CBI probe

It started off as a cakewalk for saffron sanyasin Uma Bharati but her current campaign in Madhya Pradesh has cooked up a storm with allegations that she participated in an offering of a cake to Lord Hanuman in the Jam Sanwli temple in Bhopal on Hanuman Jayanti. Though she later claimed it was actually kalakand (milk cake) and, therefore, had no egg content, the fact that a sanyasin was making an offering of that nature was enough to take the cake and, in the bargain, invite the CBI to launch an investigation into the controversial affair.

Whatever it was, she did light candles on the disputed offering. Bhopal Mayor Vibha Patel alleged that the cake was made with eggs and, therefore, a religious affront. Bharati retorted with, "It was perfectly vegetarian and who are you to question me?" In jumped Chief Minister Digvijay Singh with the information that God had punished Bharati for offering an egg cake-apparently he believes that her public meetings since then have failed. Bharati then wrote to Digvijay demanding a CBI inquiry. While she bids to become the first Hanuman disciple to offer kalakand topped with candles, Digvijay plays Socrates, reading divine punishments. The electorate, meanwhile, is more worried about its daily bread, but the leaders, in true revolutionary style, are giving them cake.