Unpaid electricity bill lands Navjot Singh Sidhu in controversy

Former Punjab Cabinet minister and Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu landed himself in the thick of controversy over an unpaid electricity bill of over ₹8 lakh for his Amritsar residence.

Mr. Sidhu discovered himself on the again foot on Friday when, in a sequence of tweets, he suggested Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to resolve the continuing “power crises” in the State. However, he invited criticism from a number of quarters after it got here to mild that he himself was one of many State’s greatest particular person defaulters in electricity dues.

A day after the controversy erupted, Mr. Sidhu’s spouse Navjot Kaur on Saturday got here out to clear the air.

Asserting that there was nothing fallacious, Ms. Sidhu in a video message stated pointless controversy was being raked up, including that an enchantment surrounding the “higher” quantity of the electricity bill was being taken up with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and regardless of the billed quantity would certainly be paid.

“The point is not about ‘not’ paying the electricity bill. The issue was why the power bill was of a near similar amount in both the summer and the winter as air conditioners were not used in the winter but the bill was on the higher side. So, an appeal was submitted with the department to look into the issue… Also, the department has accepted the appeal, and whatever the amount that is unpaid, it will be paid,” Ms. Kaur stated.

Mr. Sidhu has an excellent electricity bill of ₹8,74,784 for his residence in Amritsar until July 2, which was the final date for paying the bill. An official of PSPCL stated Mr. Sidhu had owed ₹17,62,742 to PSPCL in March 2021 and later, when a particular restoration drive was began, Mr. Sidhu had paid ₹10 lakh. However, an quantity of ₹8,74,784 was nonetheless pending in opposition to his account. The official stated Mr. Sidhu had filed an software elevating issues on surcharges, which was into account.