Thiruvananthapuram: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal - Secular leader H D
Devagowda on March 22 defended the stand taken by India on the US-led attack against
Iraq.
"Centre has taken a pious stand on the issue," he said in reply to queries at a Meet-
the-Press programme on March 22.
The Indian government had taken a position that they were against war and would not
support the war, he said.
But the Centre had its own problem regarding trade and other matters, Gowda said,
adding, "I am giving my opinion and not making it a political issue."
Criticising the US for launching war on Iraq, the former Prime Minister said
Washington had bypassed UN resolutions. "What sanctity the United Nations has now?"
he asked.
Gowda said the war on Iraq was not going to end terrorist problem in the world. "In
fact war would only aggravate the problem.
"Is US able to solve terrorist problem by attacking Afghanistan? Only fallout is the
spread of terrorist outfits like al-Qaida to other parts," Gowda said.
PTI
