Visibly peeved over the development, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday made it clear that he cannot do anything if the Power Minister Navjot Singh “Sidhu doesn’t want to do his job”.

Underlining the significance of Power Department in the ongoing summer season and the paddy transplantation, Capt Amarinder maintained that the “power situation of Punjab is very precarious”.

“This is our most critical time — June to October — since it is the paddy season. Seventy percent Punjab has received rains while 30 percent hasn’t received even one shower. The power situation in the state is very bad and I daily receive reports on the power situation. This is the job of the Power Minister. But if he doesn’t want to do it, I cannot help it,” said Capt Amarinder.

He said that the Minister should have accepted his new portfolio instead of shunning the work in the middle of the crucial paddy season. “Sidhu was given a job, which he should have accepted and done,” he added.

Asked if Sidhu had made any attempt at reconciliation, the Chief Minister said that there was no need for it. “I do not have any issues with him. If Sidhu has any issues with me, you’ll have to ask him about them,” he said.

At the same time, the Chief Minister said that he did not see any harm in the Minister sending his papers to the Congress national president.

“The Cabinet was decided in consultation with the Congress high command so it was ok for Sidhu to send his resignation to the party president,” he said. Pointing out that he had reshuffled the portfolios of 13 of the 17 Ministers in his Cabinet after the Lok Sabha elections, Capt Amarinder said that Sidhu was the only member who had problems. The reshuffle was decided on the basis of the performance of the ministers, and Sidhu should have accepted his new department, he added.