The Punjab Government appointed advisers and media advisers before sanctioning of their posts.
More than four months after making appointments on these posts, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval “for the creation for posts of Advisers or Media Advisers”. The Cabinet has also approved the terms and conditions of their service.
Already, Badals’ loyalist Harcharan Bains has been serving as Adviser to the Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs since the SAD-BJP Government returned to power in 2012, and enjoying the Cabinet rank. He was also the Media Adviser of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Government’s previous tenure.
Only recently, the State Government made three appointments — including two journalists of the noted English dailies — as advisors of the State Government.
BJP’s active leader Vineet Joshi was given the post of Assistant Media Adviser to Punjab Government — equivalent to the rank of Chief Parliamentary Secretary, nearly five month ago. Around three months later, senior journalist Jangveer Singh was appointed as the Media Adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. He was given the rank of State Minister.
Only a month ago, another journalist Harjinder Sidhu was appointed as Assistant Media Adviser to Deputy Chief Minister.