Violaters of rule of law not to be spared: Badal

Chandigarh, Mar 28 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today categorically stated that no innocent would be harassed by his government but those who had violated the rule of law would not be spared their.

Replying to the debate on the Governor's Address in the Vidhan Sabha, he, however, sought to assure the House that there was no place for political vendetta in his government.

Calling for a decisive end to past bitterness, vendetta and confrontation, he said that the SAD-BJP government in the state would move ahead with a spirit of conciliation, consensus and co-operation.

The people of Punjab had rejected the politics of confrontation, vendetta and bitterness that the previous government followed, he added.

In the last elections, the electorate gave a mandate on an agenda for peace, development and clean and value based politics, he added.

Amarinder Singh's government was elected on the promise of clean and transparent administration, but it set a new records in ''mega scams'', he said. There was no transparency in the pervious government as it did everything in a secretive and conspiratorial manner, he added.

''The so-called war on corruption was only a cover for Chief Ministerial corruption'', the chief minister said and added that this war was also used to defame and humiliate opponents within the party and outside. He assured the House that he would provide a corrupt free government.

Refering to the setting up of the Vigilance Commission by the previous government, he sought to point out that his predecessor had violated all guidelines of the Model Bill circulated by the Central Government on the procedure to be followed for setting up of the Commission. The setting up of the Vigilance Commission was thus bad both in its motive and in procedure, he said while justifying his governments move to disban the Commission.

Earlier in her reply on the Governor's Address, the Leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal alleged that the SAD-BJP government had begun ''witch hunting'' of its political opponents.

Congress workers were being targeted by the Akalis, she alleged.

Refering to the registeration of a corruption case by the state Vigilance Bureau against Capt Amarinder Singh and his ministerial colleague Choudhary Jagjit Singh, Mrs Bhattal claimed that the two had been falsely implicated as their names did not figure in the vigilance inquiry report. She wanted that the inquiry should be made public.

The Governor's Address was later passed by a voice vote by the House.

UNI