Gowda Should Have Consulted Cong, Gupta Tells V P

Union home minister Indrajit Gupta yesterday admitted to former Prime Minister V P Singh that his government, especially Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, should have consulted the Congress Party at least on major policy decisions.

Gupta stated that the Congress grievance of having been ignored was genuine, given the fact that the government's stability depended on its strength.

Gupta is now suggesting that the Congress should allow the vote of confidence to carry. In return, the Front should shed its allergy to the Congress and consult it not only on policy matters but also on important appointments. Singh is said to have reminded Gupta of his days as Prime Minister when he used to hold weekly Tuesday meetings with both the BJP and the Left. Both BJP and the Left were supporting the government from outside, as the Congress is now doing with its 144 MPs.

Interestingly, Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has been under fire from the Left, particularly Gupta's own party CPI, for consulting the then Congress president PV Narasimha Rao during the initial days of the Front government. During the hour-long meeting with Singh, Gupta is said to have mentioned that Gowda did not even consult his home minister. How could he be expected to consult the Congress, Gupta wondered.

As an instance of the Prime Minister's attitude, the Congress cites Gowda's categorical assurance to at least three party leaders