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Journalism of Courage
BANGALORE, December 4: Former Prime Minister and chairman of United Front steering committee, H D Deve Gowda, on Wednesday defended the Union Council of Ministers’ recommendation for dissolving the Lok Sabha, terming it as the "right and best decision" and blamed the Congress for the political instability.
"In the given situation, the Cabinet has taken the best decision. I welcome it", Gowda told media persons soon after his arrival here from Delhi. The President, he said, had given sufficient opportunity to both Congress and BJP who were "anxious" to form the government.
"You create instability and the country has suffered because of your childish play," Gowda said, in an apparent swipe at the Congress.
The Prime Minister, I K Gujral, he said, had taken a "fair decision" on dissolution, he said. Gowda reminded the assembled scribes that the confidence built about the Indian economy was first shattered on April 21, apparently referring to the Congress’ withdrawal of support to his government.
Gowda continued his tirade against "those who are to be blamed for the economic crisis" saying "the UF is not responsible. People will decide who is to be blamed", obviously hinting at his view of the possible poll outcome. The UF, he went on to say, will fight both the Congress and BJP.
Gowda was all praise for the UF’s "unique unity" and cited that the Congress did its best to break it in vain. Also, he pointed out, for the first time a leader of Vajpayee’s stature gave a call to Congress MPs which was nothing but an attempt to induce a split.
Asked why the recommendation for dissolution was not made earlier, he said the UF did not want to "curtail the opportunity" which the Congress and BJP wanted to form the government.
On the million dollar question as to whether the people would send a clear mandate in the polls that now seemed certain, he merely said, "Nobody can foresee what is in people’s hearts".
