‘Fine if CM keeps urban development ministry’
: Local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday toned down his demand for housing and urban development ministry when he said it was fine with him if chief minister Amarinder Singh continues to hold the portfolio and he only wants to be involved in discussion and decision-making process.
“I have no problem if CM keeps the housing department,” said Sidhu while talking to a select group of journalists after taking oath as an MLA in the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha. His comments came a day after a clean chit from the government that he can continue to be a part of “The Kapil Sharma Show”.
Last week, Amarinder had raised apprehension that in case of conflict of interest, Sidhu’s portfolio (tourism and cultural affairs) could be changed. On Thursday, advocate general Atul Nanda made it clear that Sidhu “faces no legal bar in continuing with his work on the show”.
Sidhu had been demanding housing and urban development department along with the local bodies assigned to him saying all the issues related to urban development are in control of one department.
“My request is to call me periodically to discuss the issues, so there is coordination in all development works in state,” he said, reiterating that the development had to a joint effort of the two departments. Many programmes run by the Centre have involvement of both housing and urban development and local bodies department of the states, he said.