Now Badal for conferring Bharat Ratna on Vajpayee

Joining the chorus, Akali stalwart and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the former prime minister was the only political stalwart with undisputed credentials of secularism.
Three days after cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and noted scientist C N R Rao were named for the country's highest civilian honour, 85-year-old Badal said that the Centre must confer the country's highest civilian award on Vajpayee "as he was the most deserving incumbent for the honour".
"Vajpayee was an able administrator, a true statesman and above all the only political stalwart with undisputed credentials of secularism," he told reporters here at Rakhra in Patiala district.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and National Conference leader Union Minister Faroq Abdullah had demanded the honour for Vajpayee.
Meanwhile, when a reporter asked Badal about the issue of personal attacks in the political discourses during electioneering by the top national leadership of BJP and Congress, Badal said, "this trend was highly derogatory and should be condemned by one and all".
He said throughout his political career he has never attacked anyone personally.

The five-time chief minister said this practice must be stopped because it generated a feeling of hatred and hostility among the political parties.
Replying to another query regarding the seat sharing between SAD and BJP in the forthcoming Delhi assembly elections, the chief minister said "our party was satisfied with the four seats allotted to SAD and there was no question of any difference of opinion over it".

Badal said he would be campaigning in the favour of SAD-BJP candidates in Delhi during next few days.
Asked about the issue of bringing electoral reforms to ensure transparency in the funding of political parties, Badal said he would welcome such reforms because SAD was the votary for clean politics based on true democratic values.
Referring to the issue of recent seizure of narcotics across Punjab, the chief minister appreciated the role of state police in nabbing the culprits and said law would take its own course and none of the guilty involved in this racket would be spared.
He said the diligent police officers who had unearthed the racket would be suitably rewarded.

Badal further said any official or officer of state health department found involved in the drug racket would also be dealt severely.