By HindustanTimes.com

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday opened the fifth Hindustan Times Leadership Summit at Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi at 10 am on Friday.

"I am thrilled with optimism when I think about the future of India which is at the threshold of social and economic development," he said at the inaugural ceremony.

"A new dawn beckons India which is moving away from the narrow sectarian agenda," said the Prime Minister.

He congratulated Hindustan Times vice-chairperson Shobhana Bhartia for making the leadership 'a high quality event'.

Earlier, Ms Bhartia, while welcoming the guests, spoke of the emergence of a new India which has zero tolerance for corruption and whose financial institutions are buoyant.

She said the UPA Government should be congratulated for thinking out of the box while promulgating the Right to Information Act and Rural Employee Guarantee Act.

The Leadership Summit, which was launched in 2003, has come a long way in enhancing the pressing issues, she stated.

The next session will feature UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in conversation with senior Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi.

This will be followed by UP Chief Minister Mayawati speaking on the topic "Are northern states dragging India behind."

More than 500 delegates from India and abroad ranging from advertising professionals to media persons to academicians and politicians are attending the Summit.