By IANS
Ludhiana : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Saturday called upon leaders of all political parties to come forward for the development of the state, saying his government had not unleashed any vendetta against its opponents.
Faced with criticism, particularly from the opposition Congress, that the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was targeting its leaders, Badal made it clear that not even a single politician had been arrested for personal reasons.
The Punjab vigilance had recently registered corruption cases against former chief minister Amarinder Singh, former minister Jagjit Singh and several other people close to the previous Congress government in the state.
State Congress president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has, in recent days, accused the Badal government of targeting leaders of her party. She pointed out that Congress leaders even in smaller towns and the police and administration were troubling villages on different pretexts.
Badal reacted saying that none of the cases was to settle personal scores. He said that a conflict and tension-free environment was required for the economic development in the state.
Badal also admitted that there was a communication gap between the ruling alliance partners – Akalis and the BJP.
He said that a seven-member committee of leaders of both the parties had been set up to resolve any differences within the ruling alliance.
Members of Parliament Sukhbir Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu are part of the committee. The committee will meet periodically, the chief minister added.