‘Cable mafia’ is back on table

Ruchika M Khanna

 Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

To end the Badal family’s monopoly in transport business, the Punjab Cabinet today came up with a new  policy that allows for higher government participation in the luxury bus service.

  The Council of Ministers also decided to scrap the Shivalik Dhauladhar Tourism Board set up three years ago to develop the area around Thein Dam.

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During an informal meeting later, senior ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu and Manpreet Singh Badal, both Sukhbir Badal-baiters, are learnt to have pressured Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to initiate action against the cable transmission company, Fastway Transmissions, that “flourished” under the  SAD-BJP government. 

The CM has been resisting pressure to act against the Badals, saying he was concentrating on rebuilding Punjab and a witch-hunt was not on his agenda.

Sources said the two ministers sought to discuss the issue of “cable mafia”.  Sidhu had earlier spoken against Fastway. Alleging it indulged in monopolistic practices and owed Rs 684 crore to the government, he had sent the company recovery notices. 

Sidhu and Manpreet are learnt to have “rather aggressively” put across their viewpoint, alleging that despite 1,100 notices, the company had failed to pay dues.  

The two ministers insisted that the “cable mafia” be finished in 10 days. 

The CM is learnt to have asked Sidhu to discuss the matter with the Advocate General as well as with departments awaiting payment by the company.