Thursday, February 23 2006 18:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a politically combative reply, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Feb 23 2006) dismissed the opposition BJP's charge that there were dual power centres in the Government and sought to justify the Centre's decision to dissolve the Bihar assembly last year, notwithstanding Supreme Court's decision striking it down.

Amid opposition uproar over alleged government directive to CBI in the case against L K Advani in the Babri demolition issue, he hit back at the party for allowing 'shadowy organisations' to interfere when it was in power.

Winding up the debate on the President's address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister utilised the opportunity to taunt the BJP saying the Prime Minister functioned within a set of rules and a framework of governance.

"Maybe those who raise the issue (of Prime Ministerial authority) are unaware of this framework. Maybe they think other parties function like theirs, allowing shadowy organisations to interfere in the work of elected governments. That has not been the culture of the Congress party", he said.

On the 'unconstitutionality' of the dissolution in Bihar, Singh noted that the Supreme Court had not arrived at a unanimous verdict. Three judges were of the view that the proclamation was unconstitutional while two others held a different view.

"Therefore, it is obvious that in this complicated case there could be an honest difference of opinion. This has to be kept in view in arriving at a conclusion about the conduct of the Governor or the Union Cabinet," he said.

Singh said Governor Buta Singh had resigned on his 'own volition' and the elections to the assembly on the formation of a stable government had made the debate 'infructous.'