I-DAY MESSAGE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivering the Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday. At right are schoolchildren in Tricolour formation . — PHOTOS: Rajeev Bhatt and PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday called for a new kind of politics if the country were to achieve its potential for a prosperous and bright future.

"We need a politics that will propel us forward. We need a politics that will guide us to new frontiers, take us to new horizons. I urge all our political leaders to think deeply about the future of our country. We must shun the politics of divisiveness and adopt the politics of change and progress."

These were the concluding words of his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort here on Independence Day.

Dr. Singh, who unfurled the Tricolour before the address, invited all citizens to build a new India — "An India that is united in thought, not divided by religion and language; an India that is united in our Indianness, not divided by caste and religions; an India that is united in seeking new opportunities for growth, not divided by disparities; an India that is caring and inclusive."

In his address, third to the nation from the Red Fort, Dr. Singh struck a different note from his previous ones.

Rather than announcing a host of schemes and plans, he sought to take the people into confidence on the pluses and minuses of the problems confronting the nation.

Growth of economy

While noting the "impressive" growth of the economy at eight per cent for the third successive year and paying tribute to "a reassuring confidence in our industry in being able to take on the challenge of the rest of the world," the Prime Minister prescribed economic growth as the only way to tackle poverty and unemployment.

But, Dr. Singh noted, "vast segments of our people are untouched by modernisation" and "they continue to suffer from iniquitous social orders."

And, he drew the nation's attention to the fact that "globalisation certainly has its benefits but it can hurt the common man."

He specially mentioned the havoc the rise in international prices of crude oil was causing at home, and how the Government was subsidising consumption of petroleum products.

Educational opportunities

On the reservation issue, he said his Government was "committed to providing reservation in educational institutions for students from socially backward sections of society. We will do so, while simultaneously expanding educational opportunities for all youth."

For him the approach was to "recognise and reward individual merit and hard work while working for an inclusive society."

Referring to the challenges to internal security, he said terrorists were out to disrupt "our economic progress and provoke communal incidents but our strength lies in our unity. We will not allow the secular fabric of our country to be broken."

At the same time, he promised, "We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that terrorist elements in India are neutralised and smashed."

The Prime Minister also warned those who used terror as a strategy against India: "Let those who want to hurt us by inflicting a thousand cuts remember — no one can break our will, or unity. No one can make India kneel."

While expressing his desire to seek peace with Pakistan, he said: "It is obvious that unless Pakistan takes concrete steps to implement the solemn assurances it has given to prevent cross-border terrorism against India from any territory within its control, public opinion in India, which has supported the peace process, will be undermined."

The Prime Minister asked the insurgents in the northeast and naxalites to realise "power will never flow from the barrel of a gun. Real power flows from the ballot box."

At the same time, he hoped, "the dialogue that we have initiated with many disaffected groups will produce a peace dividend."

To all those who felt alienated and angry, he said: "A life of progress and prosperity with self-respect and dignity is the right of the people there and we are confident of providing it."

"We must build a new India the youth dream of"

Acknowledging the aspirations of the youth, he noted: "They are willing to think in new ways. They have no time for old ideas and ideologies. They want to build a new India. We must build a new India of their dreams."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail