CHANDIGARH: Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal today came out in support of his colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu seeking to conduct an audit of a private cable operator which he had accused of evading taxes to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore, saying the Cabinet will discuss the matter threadbare.
To a question on Sidhu's demand for permanent solution to eliminate cable mafia from the state, which he alleged was being "sheltered" by the previous SAD-BJP government, Badal said, "He (Sidhu) has a point."
Sidhu had yesterday sought permission from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to audit a private multi-system operator (MSO) in the cable business asserting, "It is necessary to come out with a permanent solution to rein in cable mafia."
After becoming a minister, Sidhu has been vociferously speaking against cable mafia and pitching for level playing field while targeting the SAD-BJP's "favourite" private multi-system operator.
Sidhu had said he would also take this matter to the cabinet.
Badal today said the Cabinet will arrive at a collective decision on this issue.
"I am sure Sidhu sahib will bring this issue to the cabinet and it will discuss the matter threadbare. We will arrive at a collective decision," he said.