PM pledges Govt assistance to farmers to deal with drought

Sending out a positive message on Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for a new era of cooperation and harmony and pledged all possible Government assistance to farmers to deal with drought and stepped up efforts to control spiralling prices. Highlights of PM's speech

Updated on: Aug 15, 2009, 12:23:27 IST

PTI | By HT Correspondent, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Sending out a positive message on Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for a new era of cooperation and harmony and pledged all possible Government assistance to farmers to deal with drought and stepped up efforts to control spiralling prices.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the sixth consecutive year, Singh said the Government would work for political stability and strengthening economy with an aim of marching towards "a golden future".

Asserting that the people had rejected sectarian politics and have "chosen a political arrangement which is secular", he called for "a new era of cooperation and harmony" and promised to take everyone along to create "an environment of consensus and cooperation".

"You have entrusted a big responsibility on us and we humbly accept that and will fulfill it", he said.

Talking about problems like drought, economic crisis and swine flu facing the country, he sought to allay concerns.

There was no need to panic in the face of swine flu and daily life should not be disrupted because of it, said 76- year-old Singh.

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.