NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister H.D, Deve Gowda, last week said his United Front Government would seek a vote of confidence on June 10 and continue the economic reforms initiated by the previous Congress Government, agencies report It would iron out the differences over the issue with friendly parties in the coalition, Gowda told journalists in an informal chat alter the swearing in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Gowda said” even when he be ‘came the Chief Minister of Karnataka one and half years ago, I stood by the former Prime Minister (pointing to PV, Narasimha Rao sitting beside him), who is the author of the economic reforms, | will continue to stand by the reforms and will sort out differences with friendly parties, Mr Gowda indicated that he would persuade the Left parties, who have been vehemently critical of the Rao Government reforms, to accept this point of view. As far as global investments were concerned, “I fully agree with. (Rao) that they are important,” the Prime Minister said.

In response to a question, Gowda’ said he would seek vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha on June 10, todays before the deadline set by the President Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma, Gowda, who described himself as a farmer said his top priority would be rural development.

Deve Gowda said the Congress Government had allocated Rs 30,000Crore towards rural development. He said there were many loopholes and there was need for a time bound program to achieve the targets. Poor communication system also needs to be improved, He said, “Lama Peasant, a farmer, and my priorities would be rural development, social welfare and prominence 10 agricultural sectors.

Regarding his attitude to multinational companies, Gowda said, “My stand is totally clear, I have stood by the economic reforms.” Asked if he Rao as his “guru” (mentor) in economic reforms. Gowda smiled ‘and pointed to all those who’s at around him, including the President and former Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayce, Chandra Shekhar and V.P. Singh, and said, “All the elders are my gurus, including Rashtrapati ji.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 5, 1996