Date:26/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/26/stories/2005052603981200.htm

National

Hasty decision, says Gowda

Staff Correspondent

HASSAN: The Centre has taken a ``hasty decision'' in issuing the Proclamation on dissolving the Bihar Assembly, the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, said here on Wednesday.

Constitutional experts expressed differing opinions on the issue, he said. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Union Cabinet took the decision because the worst kind of horse-trading was going on in Bihar, a former Attorney-General said the Centre's action was wrong.

``It seems the United Progressive Alliance Government has taken a hurried decision, '' Mr. Gowda said.

Asked about the performance of the UPA Government, Mr. Gowda said its achievements were ``negligible.''It failed miserably in agriculture, rural development and employment generation.

Taking exception to the Prime Minister's statement that agriculture was a State subject, Mr. Gowda said the United Front Government he led recorded a better performance on the farm front.