Capt Amarinder not in command of his government, says Sukhbir Badal

Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made business interests of the ruling Badal family their main poll plank. After taking power, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has taken the “no-political vendetta” line, leaving ministers and MLAs with the feeling that the Punjab government is not doing enough to bring down the business empire of the Badals.

Amid all this, there have been reports of local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s tirade against cable transmission company, Fastway, and the government’s move to cancel bus permits under the new transport policy.

Responding to this, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday broke his silence, saying the CM was “not in command” of the Punjab government.

He also claimed that Sidhu and finance minister Manpreet Badal were competing to “make headlines”.

“Sidhu and Manpreet are in a succession battle to dethrone Amarinder. I don’t see this government lasting for five years. Sidhu thinks Fastway is owned by me. We have no links with Fastway. I am 100% shareholder of PTC (group of channels). From buses to hotels, every business is in my name and various agencies have scrutinised it,” he said, while speaking to HT on the sidelines of the voting for the Presidential elections.

He added, “The government wants to cancel all bus permits given since 2011. I only have a fleet of 150 buses. Others are small bus operators, owning two to three buses. They will hit livelihoods of small operators to hit Sukhbir. All my bus permits are legal and I am not bothered if they cancel them. I own PTC, but our government did not pay a single penny for running government ads,” Sukhbir added.

At the last cabinet meeting, many ministers wanted action against Badal buses and Sidhu had raked up Fastway’s alleged tax evasion.

News Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com

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