Now, Sidhu plays defensive on Fastway pitch

CHANDIGARH: Having bowled bouncers against his own government recently over “no action” against Fastway Cable Network for alleged theft of entertainment tax, local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had to play defensive while taking up the issue in the cabinet meeting on Friday.

Sources said Sidhu raised the matter before the chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh in a rather mild and apologetic tone.

The minister, who had asserted at a press conference on Wednesday that the ball is now in the chief minister’s court as far as action against Fastway is concerned, told Amarinder in the cabinet meeting that media has blown the issue out of proportion and his statement was twisted.

He, however, said action needs to be taken against the Badal-family backed Fastway

While replying to Sidhu, Amarinder apprised the cabinet that he has already stated that if Fastway had made loss to the state exchequer, action would be initiated against the company, after a perusal of all documents, sources said,

“Even if the cable network owes ₹1 (to the government), it would be recovered by using all legal means. But at the same time, my government won’t act as vindictive. There would be no censorship on any cable business without studying their violations,” the CM told Sidhu, according to a cabinet minister.

Sources said Sidhu was also not supported by any minister while he raised the demand to take action against Fastway.

After the cabinet meeting when Sidhu came to address the media along with his colleague Manpreet Badal, he was mild while responding to queries over his earlier resolve to strongly take up the issue in the cabinet.

“Capatain saab has supported all the eight proposals put in the cabinet about my department. I am thankful to him that he gave what I asked for. We won’t levy more taxes, but would not spare those who made tax thefts worth crores to fill their own pockets and fooled the goverment,” the minister said.

He claimed that he took up the Fastway issue in the cabinet meeting and the CM has assured him of action.

“Koi vi player apne captain de hisaab naal hi chalda hai (Every player goes by the instructions of his captain). And we are united to take on the Opposition under the able leadership of chief minister Saab. If somebody wants to make mountain out of a molehill, what can do?” he added.

WHILE SEEKING ACTION AGAINST CABLE NETWORK COMPANY, HE TOLD AMARINDER IN THE CABINET MEETING THAT HIS RECENT STATEMENT OVER THE ISSUE WAS TWISTED BY MEDIA