Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday justified his Cabinet's decision to dissolve the Bihar assembly and said "horse-trading of the worst type" was taking place in the state and there was no other option.
Addressing a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to the Ranthambore tiger reserve, Dr Singh said, "Three months have passed since the elections were held. No option was possible in the state. An atmosphere was created in which horse-trading of the worst type was taking place. In such a situation, it is the constitutional duty of the government to see that such nefarious practices do not spoil the good name of the country."
The prime minister further added: "That is how the governor made the recommendation that there is no alternative but to dissolve the assembly."
On the recent bomb blasts in Delhi, the prime minister said the government will make no compromise with terrorism and face the challenge to the country effectively. "I have made it very clear more than once that our country will not compromise with terrorists and anti-social elements," he said.
Singh said state governments should strongly deal with law and order situations and protect the common citizens from anti-social elements. "There will be no compromise with these anti-social elements who are out to destroy and disrupt normal life of our people," he said.
Referring to recent incidents of rape in Delhi and other places, Singh described it as a blot. "Crime against women is a shameful act. Any society that tolerates this phenomenon cannot be considered civilised," he said.
"This is a blot and we must do everything in our power, mobilise public opinion and also strengthen enforcement system so that people who indulge in such heinous crimes can be brought to book effectively and they are given deterrent punishment," he said.
More from rediff