Tuesday, May 24 2005 16:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranthambore: Rejecting the Opposition tirade against Centre's action on Bihar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 24, 2005) said it had no other option but to dissolve the State Assembly as "horse-trading of the worst kind" was taking place there.

The Government had "credible evidence" about "nefarious activities" taking place in the State, he said addressing a press conference in Ranthambore at conclusion of his two-day visit here to take stock of the situation regarding depleting tiger population.

"Three months have passed since elections in Bihar and no Government was being formed. So an atmosphere was created in which horse trading of the worst kind was taking place," he said.

"In this situation, it is the constitutional duty of the Government to see that such nefarious activities do not spoil the good name of the Country," Singh said.

The Prime Minister said Bihar Governor Buta Singh "recommended to the Centre that there was no alternative but to dissolve the Assembly."

Pointing out that even newspapers had reported horse trading on a large scale in Bihar for the past many days, he said the Governor had submitted more than one report on the situation in the State.

"So, I think, we had credible evidence ...there was no other way to deal with the problem than dissolve the Assembly," he said.