CHANDIGARH, December 4: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has received a pat from Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral for maintaining peace in the border state and providing a clean administration.

According to an official spokesman, Gujral, who is on the way out, rang up Badal to convey his sense of appreciation that the state has been put back on the path of development.The State has earned its well deserved praise on its crackdown on corruption since it has launched a concerted drive against corrupt officers; also instituting rewards for people acting against graft cases.

So far, 175 government officials, including 25 gazetted officers, have been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau. The State Government has set aside Rs 33 lakh for giving awards under Maharaja Ranjit Singh award scheme.

The Government, having set up a Lok Pal, intends to further intensify this campaign as removal of corruption was a major poll plank of the ruling Akali Dal, the spokesman added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.