Abu Dhabi, Dec 8 (IANS/WAM): The Indian economy, which is "stuttering", needs to be shored up, and development is the prudent way forward even as the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "has lived to fight another day", a leading UAE daily has said.

The vote in the Lok Sabha ensured that the decks were cleared for Manmohan Singh to introduce foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector and thereby show the people that the government was firm on reforms, The Gulf News said in an editorial.

"In truth, however, despite (Manmohan) Singh's best intentions, he is eight years too late", the paper said.

It said the reforms have largely been seen as a "desperate gamble" by the government to secure the voters' trust after having failed on numerous counts, "including honesty and good governance", ahead of the 2014 general elections.

Its effects, therefore, will only be short term if at all, it said.

"The government must also desist from setting bad precedents such as putting executive decisions to vote in parliament", the paper said.

Even though it (Indian government) has triumphed this time, allegations of horse-trading have mauled its credibility.

The goal now should be for the government to do everything it can to take prompt decisions. Time should not be spent debating in parliament, if it is allowed to convene at all, thanks to an obstructionist opposition, the paper added. Meanwhile, the opposition must gather its wits and focus on the bigger picture. Its ideologies have wavered thanks to the focus on government bashing, it said.