New Delhi, October 30
Wishing Pakistan success in combating terrorism, the Prime Minister today said India desired to see democracy take deep roots in South Asian countries and declared New Delhi’s commitment to resolve all outstanding issues with them through dialogue and in a spirit of partnership.
Manmohan Singh also sought to allay the impression that India and China were engaged in a game of one-upmanship, saying there was enough space in the world to accommodate the growth and ambitions of the two Asian giants.
The PM was inaugurating a two-day Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, being attended by 27 prominent personalities from India and abroad. Former US President George W Bush is scheduled to address the summit tomorrow.
In his 20-minute address, Singh, without directly naming Pakistan, reassured the neighbouring country that India wished to live in peace with its own neighbourhood and the world at large. Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik and Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan were among those who attentively heard the PM’s address.
“We have always been and wish to remain good neighbours and good global citizens. I do believe our destiny is intrinsically linked with that of all our neighbours. We seek good relations with each one of them. I have repeatedly said that we seek our security and prosperity in their progress and stability,” he said.
Later in response to a question, the PM noted with concern that Pakistan was grappling with many internal problems and terrorism was one of them. “I wish them success in (tackling) that.”’ He recalled that even during his speeches in Jammu and Kashmir in the past two days, he had mentioned that the destinies of India and Pakistan, and indeed the whole of South Asia, were interlinked.
“India seeks a neighbourhood of peace and progress. We wish our neighbours well. We would like to see them develop and wipe out poverty and overcome the burden of history and we would like to work with them to achieve these goals,” he said.
On China, the PM admitted that
the two countries had an unresolved boundary dispute but hastened to add that both have agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along the border pending a final settlement of the issue.
“I think security concerns are the primary responsibilities of every civilised country. And you have my assurance that we have been paying adequate attention to protect, preserve the security of our country,” he told a questioner who asked how the government was tackling China’s ‘string of pearls’ policy, which involves investing in projects in countries neighbouring India.
Admitting that there could be differences among UPA leaders on the Naxal issue, the PM declared that the Centre would work with all states regardless of their "political complexion" for enforcing law and order. He was replying to a question on reports that Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee differed with the government’s approach towards tackling the Naxal menace. “We are a functioning democracy and also there are occasions when there are differences of opinion among various leaders of our own coalition,” he said.
Agreeing that police reforms have "not received" the deserving attention from the government, he said the Centre would work on them in near future. The PM called for revitalisation of the Panchayati Raj institutions as that would help give the country a sound political leadership at the state and local levels. The government, he emphasised, was committed to reducing regional disparities and ensuring the social uplift of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and less privileged sections.
