NEW DELHI -- Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said he has no problem with Navjot Singh Sidhu working in television shows after becoming a minister if legal and Constitutional provisions so permitted, but the Attorney General has advised against it.
Amarinder said in case Sidhu's work on TV was as per law, he may have to divest him of the culture portfolio lest it should involve a conflict of interest.
Sidhu is at the centre of a row over his working in a television show despite beoming a Minister in Punjab. He has expressed his desire to continue in the show, saying he has to earn to run his family.
"I do not know the Constitutional position. We have asked the Advocate General (AG) of Punjab for an opinion. He has not yet looked at the file. Sidhu is a senior and intelligent man. The question is whether it is proper for him to continue with the television show, he must have also asked some experts.
"If it is possible we have no objections. Sidhu can earn his keep the way he wants. However, since he is Minister for Culture also, we may then have to change his portfolio," Singh told reporters when asked about the issue of propriety of the cricketer-turned-politician continuing to be part of popular comedian Kapil Sharma's show.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said there is no provision in the Constituion to disqualify an MLA or Minister if he engages in a private business but added that there is 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."
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