Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 16 August 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, Singh said: “For relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity.”
Terming the attack and killing of jawans as “dastardly”, he assured that all possible steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Internal security
Talking about internal security, Singh mentioned that there has been improvement in the area of national security. Despite some worrisome communal incidents in 2012 and this year, he claimed that the last nine years have been good for communal harmony. There has been a reduction in terrorist and Naxal violence also.
“However, the area of national security calls for constant vigil. We have not been successful in preventing Naxal attacks that happen from time to time. The Naxal violence in Chhattisgarh on 25 May was a frontal attack on our democracy,” he said.
Economic growth
Singh felt that the phase of slow growth in India will not last long. The average growth during the last nine years has been 7.9% which is the highest in any decade so far. However, growth in 2012-13 came down to 5%.
“It is not only our country that is facing economic difficulties. The last year has been difficult for the world economy as a whole. Major European nations are experiencing a slowdown these days. All over the world, there has been a slump in export markets. All developing countries have slowed down,” he said.
Highlighting the measures to boost growth, Singh said that many steps have been taken up to speed up the process of government clearances for industry, build an environment more conducive to trade and industry and increase investment in the economy.
A special cell has been set up to help big projects with clearances. The Cabinet Committee on Investment is working to remove hindrances in the way of stalled projects. Inadequate supply of coal had become a major problem affecting the efforts for increasing electricity generation. Now this has been resolved to a large extent.
“We will start work on a number of new infrastructure projects in the coming months. This includes two new ports, eight new airports, new industrial corridors and rail projects,” the Prime Minister announced.
