Akali-BJP govt sworn in Punjab

A ten-member Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition ministry headed by Parkash Singh Badalwas sworn in on Wednesday.

Governor B K N Chibber administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at an impressive ceremony at the cricket stadium at Mohali, a city suburb of Punjab.

Besides Badal, Balram Dass Tandon and Madan Mohan Mittal (both BJP), Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Parkash Singh Majitha, Gurdev Singh Badal, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Swarup Singh, Dr Upinderjit Kaur and Nirmaljit Singh Kahlon (all Akali Dal) were sworn in as cabinet ministers.

It was the first time in Punjab's political history that the swearing-in ceremony was held outside the capital city of Chandigarh. Several thousand supporters belonging to both parties thronged the cricket stadium to witness the ceremony. Chanting of Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal and Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa Wahe Guruji ke Fateh rent the air during the ceremony.

Among those who attended the ceremony were BJP resident Lal Kishinchand Advani, its senior leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, his son and Samajwadi Janata Party leader Om Parkash Chautala and Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal.

In his address soon after the ceremony, Badal declared that his government would dedicate itself to "genuine and lasting peace, end confrontation in public life and bring peace, amity and prosperity to the state."

"Ours will be an era of peace, amity and prosperity with emphasis on all round development of the state," he said.

The chief minister said he would address himself from day one to cleansing public life from corruption.

"We are determined to give Punjab a clean and responsive administration. We have campaigned vigorously against corruption and now the people have given us an opportunity to do something about it. We will not spare anyone, no matter how high or powerful, if found guilty on this score. Government officials and politicians will not only have to be honest and transparent in all their dealings, but they will have to work in a way that their conduct remains absolutely above suspicion," Badal said.

''As a government," Badal said, "we will seek co-operation from every quarter, including those who do not share our political vision. Punjab is nobody's monopoly. It belongs to all of us and we commit ourselves to making it a role model as a democratic, welfare state.''

Parkash Singh Badal, a man for all seasons