Tuesday, May 24 2005 16:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Defending the dissolution of the State Assembly, Governor Buta Singh today (May 24, 2005) asserted that the step was taken to ''save democracy'' as horse-trading of the ''worst kind'' was taking place but said FIRs would be lodged in this connection only after going into the veracity of complaints.

''I had received inputs from various quarters about the legislators of a particular party (LJP) being taken to unknown places from Bihar in vehicles at gun-point and that they were even being bribed. A worst type of horse-trading was taking place and to stop it, the dissolution of the house was the lone option to save democracy'', Singh, told reporters.

Asked why didn't he act when he had received information about the MLAs being taken away from Bihar, Singh said he had been in New Delhi at that time.

But in the same vein, Singh said he had informed Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and other top UPA (United Progressive Alliance) leaders about the development before recommending dissolution of the house.

On what had prevented him so far from asking the authorities to file FIRs in this connection, he said cases would be filed only after going into the veracity of the complaints.

On the NDA's (National Democratic Alliance) allegation that the house was dissolved to revent JDU (Janata Dal United) leader Nitish Kumar from forming a Government, Singh asked where he (Kumar) was during the past two-and-a-half months. ''Why didn't he stake claim to form the Government earlier''? Singh asked adding such allegations were afterthoughts.

He said the State administration had received adequate companies of central forces to meet any eventuality.