NEW DELHI, May 22: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh entered the fourth year of his coalition rule on Tuesday, flaunting a list of achievements at home and abroad, among them the government’s Pakistan policy.
“We have been able to engage Pakistan in a meaningful and constructive dialogue that has the potential to bring peace and prosperity to our region as a whole,” Dr Singh said. “Our government has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment and willingness to work cooperatively with all our neighbours,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said the government was headed by a ‘non-prime minister’.
Dr Singh wasted no time in affirming his admiration for Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi. “I have been fortunate in having the support and cooperation of respected Soniaji. She is a source of immense inspiration for us all, particularly for all poor people across the length and breadth of our country,” he declared.
The prime minister said India had the satisfaction of recording, for the fourth year, a rate of economic growth of over 8.5 per cent.
“The recent acceleration of growth to nine per cent per annum has been made possible by an unprecedented increase in the rate of investment which is at an all-time high of around 35 per cent of our national income. Higher rates of investment and growth have helped generate employment and reduce poverty.”
Commenting on the performance of the government on its third anniversary, BJP leader Lal Kishan Advani said: “For the first time in our republican history, here is a government that is headed by a non-prime minister, run by a person who is not accountable to parliament, and is surviving on life-support system provided by parties that behave more like the opposition.”
On Monday, the BJP reiterated its demand that India should scrap the anti-terrorism joint mechanism with Pakistan, saying it was not helping curb terror attacks in the country.
But Dr Singh maintained that relations with Pakistan were on the mend. “Our government has also worked to create a more supportiveexternal environment for India’s economic development. We have improved our relations with all major powers and all our neighbours.”
