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Rao denies charges in bribery case

Former prime minister, P V Narasimha Rao, Tuesday told a designated court holding trial in a bribery case that no monetary inducement was made to defeat the July 28, 1993 no-confidence motion against his government.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke recorded his statement for the third and last day today. Rao said: ''There was no effort whatsoever to mobilise strength by monetary inducement to members of Parliament at any time.''

''During my term as prime minister, the government faced one confidence motion and two no-confidence motions and piloted six budgets with a large number of cut motions. There were several crucial debates resulting in decisive voting. In all these trials, the government won the vote comfortably. The government survived solely on Parliament's overall goodwill based on its performance.''

Rao alleged that witnesses had deposed in the court under political pressure and denied knowledge of any details relating to the bribe money allegedly brought from Bangalore.

The judge fixed March 1 and 2 for the recording of evidence of other ten accused and asked them to be present in the court.

UNI

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