The Hindu : Economy on high growth path: PM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

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National

Economy on high growth path: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. Asserting that the economy was on a high growth path, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today expressed the hope that the interim budget would help the country achieve a developed nation status by 2020.

He said the budget focused on food and defence security, besides measures for continuing with the growth momentum. "The budget has addressed the concern of poor farmers, middle class and all other sections of society," he told reporters here.

He said it had `vindicated' the Government position that the `economic situation is improving'.

"I am confident that this budget will help in meeting targets of all sections of society, besides facilitating achieving future targets," Mr. Vajpayee said.

"Measures taken for farmers and other sections of society will help in encouraging the farm sector." He said he was confident that the second green revolution would move forward.

On the proposal to merge 50 per cent of the DA with the basic pay of Central Government employees, Mr. Vajpayee said the staff would welcome the step but he appealed to them not to spend the additional money but to save it for the future.

"We have two major objectives, namely strengthening the country's security and providing food security," he said, adding that the scheme prepared for this would fulfil the objective.

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