CHANDIGARH: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Harcharan Singh Brar, said here that his government would bring “a perceptible change” in its functioning to provide a clean and corruption free administration to the people.

“I share people’s concern over corruption and assure them that their confidence in the administration would be restored,” Brar said. He said his government would soon setup high-powered committee to act as a watchdog body on corruption.

The people’s impression of rampant corruption in administration would be removed soon, he said adding that fie would not take tainted persons as ministers in his Council of Ministers. “But so far I have not received any complaint of corruption against any Minister of MLA,” Brar said.

Exuding confidence, Brar said his ‘government would crush with heavy hand any attempt to revive militancy in the state.

He assured investors from India and abroad that a conducive atmosphere ‘would be maintained for industrial growth in the state, “My priority is to maintain peace at all cost to be followed by exhilaration in the tempo of development,” Brar said, admitting 13 investors from abroad had approached him expressing apprehensions about revival of militancy.

‘About Akali leaders, he said though he enjoyed good relations with most of the opposition parties, they would be dealt with at political level.

“It is totally wrong (o say that the ‘Akalis have gained ground in the state,” the chief minister said, taking ‘a swipe at Akali leaders for doing nothing for Punjab.

On the hand, the Congress had stamped out militancy and succeeded in maintaining unity and integrity of the country, he said.

Brar said the Punjab police was a strong force and its morale was high.

He refused to comment on whether the Director-general of police, K.P.S. Gill, would be replaced, saying at present the police was busy in unraveling the conspiracy to assassinate Beant Singh.

Brar said police personnel could not be unnecessarily harassed as this would demoralize them and added “we will take action against erring policemen only after going into the merits of the case.”

On the coming world Sikh convention in Amritsar, he hoped the conference would keep politics at bay and would stick to a religious agenda.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1995