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Gowda Sees No Threat To Government From Congress

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BSCAL
Last Updated : Sep 06 1996 | 12:00 AM IST

Talking to a group of newspersons on the eve of completion of one hundred days in office, Gowda said his government did not believe in political vindictiveness and dismissed suggestions of witch hunting former communications minister Sukh Ram.

When asked if there was any significance in Congress president, P V Narasimha Rao's speech at a joint rally with BSP leaders in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh earlier this week, Gowda replied: I have not seen any threat.

Why should I expect any mischief from the Congress. Have they attacked any of our basic policies and programmes?, he asked.

From day one I had made this clear. My primary concern is that I should work ceaselessly for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden, he said. I never aspired to become Prime Minister. Nor did I have a plan of action to occupy the high office in Delhi, the Prime Minister said, adding that it was the destiny which brought him here.

I am not worried about the time factor..... How long I will continue (in power). Even at the time of seeking vote of confidence I said I am not going to be worried about ..... (continuing in office).

He said he was not unduly bothered about the consequences of judicial cases concerning various scams under investigation and stressed that the government would not meddle with the process of law. Replying to questions whether the pursuit of the scam cases against the Congress leaders posed any threat to his government, the Prime Minister made it clear that his government was not the prime mover in the ongoing cases against political leaders. He had not initiated any case after he assumed office on June one. Deve Gowda said the politically hetrogenous composition of his government posed no problem at all.

He recalled that the very first thing he had done after winning the vote of confidence was to call a meeting of chief ministers which had formulated unanimously an action plan to tone up the basic services for the common man in the next four years.

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This was his biggest achievement, the Prime Minister said. He asserted that he would ensure the strict observance of the time schedule.

The Prime Minister hinted that he would come to Parliament through the Lok Sabha. I have enough time, I will decide, he said dismissing as mere gossip all speculation in the media that he might take the Rajya Sabha route.

Gowda recalled that in his 36 years of public life, he had been defeated at the hustings only once. Asked whether he would contest from his home state, Karnataka, the Prime Minister said you will know it.

The Prime Minister said that he was not unduly concerned about the division of secular forces in Uttar Pradesh, which is going to the assembly polls soon.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party was prevented from assuming office at the Centre because 73.27 per cent of the electorate had backed the secular forces. This did not mean that the BJP could be kept off in the states as well. After all, the BJP had run several state governments in the past. Apparently, what he meant was it was ultimately the people who decided, not the individual political parties, which sought to set the agenda for elections.

Maintaining that personally he was not trying to win over dissident Congress leader Ajit Singh or kisan leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, Deve Gowda said any accretion to the Front's strength was welcome. The Prime Minister said his government stood by the commitment made under the common minimum programme that it would refer the Ayodhya dispute to the Supreme Court under Article 138 (2) of the Constitution.

Asked about the delay in referring the matter to the court, the Prime Minister said everything could not be done in 90 days.

The Prime Minister was unwilling to speak on the latest developments in Gujarat. But when pressed for a response he said the Centre has its own responsibility. We are only watching the developments.

Asked about the BJP allegation that the Centre was destabilising their government, Deve Gowda shot back let them set their house in order instead of blaming others.

About the blocking of Parliament proceedings by BJP members during the last two days, the Prime Minister said it was for the people to judge.

On acquisition of sophisticated arms by Pakistan from the United States under the Brown amendment, the Prime Minister said we know what Pakistan's game plan is. India is ready to face any eventuality.

Asked whether India would be deploying the Agni missile to meet the enhanced threat to its security, he said whatever action to tone up the country's security is necessary will be taken.

Maintaining that India favoured friendly ties with all its neighbours, Deve Gowda said it was the primary objective of the government to take care of the country's security first.

Apparently addressing the non-BJP parties, the Prime Minister asked them to reduce the areas of tension, promote mutual understanding and cooperate to meet the challenges facing the country.

He said the country was passing though various crises including a crisis of confidence.

He said the crisis of confidence was wholly unwarranted as there was no dearth of resources, whether human or material. He appealed to the people to think of the future with a positive outlook.

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First Published: Sep 06 1996 | 12:00 AM IST

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