Punjab Chief Minister said that his government may have to change the cricketer-turned-politician's portfolio if it is not permissible.
Clearing the air over Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's controversy of continuing his appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, Advocate General Atul Nanda on Thursday asserted that he will submit the detailed report to the Punjab Government by Thursday evening.
"I am going to submit my detailed report to the Punjab Government in the evening," Nanda told ANI.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was slammed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), saying that the cricketer-turned-politician holds a post which requires 24 hour presence. SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said that Sidhu by continuing his television career is doing injustice with his post. However, Sidhu expressed his desire to continue in The Kapil Sharma Show.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister said that his government is taking legal advice in this regard, adding they may have to change the cricketer-turned-politician's portfolio if it is not permissible. However, Sidhu said that his presence in the TV shows will not affect his Cabinet responsibilities.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday said there was no provision in the Constituion to disqualify an MLA or Minister if he engages in a private business but added that there was a moral and ethical responsibility as per which a public servant must disassociate from any commercial activity.
"No doubt he (Sidhu) is an MLA and a Minister. The position of office of profit is the same for an MP as for an MLA. But there is no provision in the Constitution which provides for disqualification of MLA/Minister if he was to conduct private business. Legally there is no bar. However, there is a moral and ethical side also. The greater the position, the greater the responsibility. So if you indulge in business in the evening, it is like saying switch off and switch on. You say you are a public servant from 10 am to 6 pm and from 6 pm to 8 am you are not a public servant. That is not a position which is countenanced in democracy," the AG said.
Rohtagi said the code of conduct clearly says that you disassociate yourself from any commercial business.
Sidhu has said that he sees nothing wrong in continuing with his role in the show, adding he cannot be a transporter like rival SAD leader Sukhbir Badal.
Taking a jibe at those raising questions, he said he failed to understand why they were "feeling pain in the stomach" when his voters do not have any problem with his being on TV. "I cannot be a transporter like former deputy CM of Punjab Sukhbir Badal. I cannot be corrupt to mint money. I can't ditch my people who voted me to power. I do TV shows to earn money to run my family and meet expenditure," Sidhu, who also holds the local bodies portfolio in Amarinder's cabinet, said. "Should I run a bus service like Sukbir Singh Badal? Or indulge in corruption? If I work four days a month, 7 PM to 6 AM, why are people getting a stomach ache?" Sidhu was cautious when asked about Amarinder's objections - "The boss is always right."
With PTI and ANI inputs.
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