Hardening his stand against the Dera chief, accused of hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that nobody was above law and that the state government was working well within the ambit of law.

"Nobody is above law and my government has done nothing unlawful so far," the chief minister told media persons outside the state assembly when his attention was drawn towards the state government's move to grant permission to police to arrest Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his alleged involvement in hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs.

Badal's statement came hours before the Bhatinda court issued formal non-bailable arrest warrant against the Dera chief.

It assumes signifance in the wake of Dera's demand on Thursday for dismissal of the Punjab government for 'framing' its head under a 'politically-motivated case.'

About the accusations of Dera and Congress leadership in Punjab that 'excesses' were being allegedly committed against Dera followers, the chief minister said no one can claim any excesses committed against anyone.