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
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