Mumbai, October 6
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his first visit to Mumbai ahead of elections to the Maharashtra Assembly is pitching for the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-led alliance.
Addressing party workers and journalists in Mumbai, Dr Manmohan Singh pointed out that the state governments that shared an ideology similar to that of the Central Government would be able to deliver better.
Dr Manmohan Singh promised a transformation of Mumbai and Maharashtra if the ruling Democratic Front Government was re-elected to power. “When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the Chief Minister and senior Congress leaders to transform Mumbai in the next five years in such a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point,” the PM said. “I have a dream that we can do it. I believe we can become number one through modernisation, expansion and development and make Mumbai the number one city
in our country.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that the UPA Government at the Centre and the DF Government in the state would be able to restore the status of Maharashtra as India’s ‘number one’ state.
Addressing party workers, Dr Manmohan Singh appealed to the people to vote “secular parties” back to power.
“The country had been saved after the communal forces were defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections. Without (the defeat) it would have been difficult to free the country from the grasp of such forces,” Dr Manmohan Singh said.
The Prime Minister, however, hit out at the defeated opposition parties efforts to stall parliament. “They then turned to astrologers and tantriks to find out ways and means to topple the government,” Dr Manmohan Singh said.
Later addressing journalists, Dr Manmohan Singh said his UPA Government would complete its term and was not at the mercy of the Left parties as made out to be. “Ours is a coalition government and there are bound to be differences (between some members), but I am confident that these matters will not cross the limit of prudence” Dr Manmohan Singh said.
Replying to reporters, Dr Manmohan Singh said he was very much in charge of the government. About the emergence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi as a major power player in the Central Government, the Prime Minister said Mrs Gandhi was a “mighty source of strength” as the UPA chairperson.
PTI adds: The Prime Minister justified the decision to scrap the S.N. Phukan Commission, probing the Tehelka expose on the defence deals, and asserted that his government was not working in a vindictive manner.
The Phukan Commission has not been able to produce a report in its three-year stint. What is the guarantee that it will come out with a report after getting an extension of three months sought by it? Dr Manmohan Singh asked when quizzed about disbanding of the commission and handing over the matter to the CBI.
Dr Manmohan Singh today favoured “voluntary action” by the corporate sector in providing reservations in jobs for the weaker sections even as he asserted that quota in the private sector was unavoidable.
The Prime Minister said he had asked Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who heads a group of ministers in this regard, to hold discussions with the private sector
in this regard.
The corporate sector could devise a strategy to support the weaker sections, which were lagging behind either because of their background or
inheritance.
