ID :
16038
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 08:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16038
The shortlink copeid
PM warns against 'divisive politics' on Amarnath issue
New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) Coming out strongly against "divisive politics" on the Amarnath issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday asked political parties not to use religion to divide people but come together in finding a permanent solution to problems plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh also made it clear that India will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives with Pakistan if the issue ofterrorism is not addressed.
In his address on the 62nd Independence Day, Singh said the sacred shrine of Amarnath is a "shining example" of secular tradition and cautioned that "dividing people in the name of religion" could complicate issues further and pose athreat to the country's unity and integrity.
"In this hour of crisis, divisive politics will lead us nowhere," Singh said in his 45-minute speech from the heavilyguarded ramparts of Red Fort.
Among the dignitaries present were Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home MinisterShivraj Patil, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and B.J.P.
leaders Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Jaswant Singh.
"I appeal to all political parties to keep the long-term interests of J and K in view and come together to find apermanent solution to the problems of the state," he said.
In his speech, the Prime Minister touched on inflation, Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the Pay Commission bonanza for government employees and armed forces personnel and various welfare measures initiated by his government, which is gearingup to face the Lok Sabha polls due by May next year.
Singh, who has come under attack over soaring prices, said his government was taking "determined" measures to bringthem under "reasonable control".
Bringing cheers to lakhs of government servants and armed forces personnel, Singh announced that government has gone "beyond" the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission inincreasing their emoluments.
Turning to the challenges posed by communalism, extremism and fundamentalism, he said "politics of consensus, not confrontation" was required and cautioned that a dividednation cannot overcome the problems.
The Prime Minister spoke about last month's terror attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and said it had cast a "shadowover the efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan".
Afghanistan and India have blamed Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence for the July 7 suicide attack in which four Indians, including a Brigadier-level defence attache and a senior Indian Foreign Services officer, wereamong nearly 60 people killed.
Singh made it clear that Pakistan would have to end cross-border terrorism, saying without the issue being addressed "all the good intentions that we have for our twopeoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated.
"We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take. The terrorists and those who support them are enemies of people of India and Pakistan, of friendship between the two countries and of peace in the region and the world. Wemust defeat them," the Prime Minister said.
In his first detailed assessment on the over month-long Amarnath land transfer row, Singh said "dividing people in the name of religion can complicate these issues further which canalso pose a threat to unity and integrity of the country.
"The sacred shrine of Shri Amarnath inspires all Indians to march together. This shrine is a shining example of our secular tradition, where Hindu pilgrims have been looked afterfor years by their Muslim brothers," he said.
His comments came amid violence that has hit the state over the controversy related to the transfer of about 100 acres of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board for the conduct of annual pilgrimage to the holy cave in the mountainsin south Kashmir.
"Issues related to the sacred place, especially the issue of providing the best possible facilities to pilgrims, can only be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and goodwill,"Singh said.
He said the state requires an era of peace to enable itto catch up with the more developed parts of the country.
Expressing his anguish over the attitude of some political parties, Singh stressed the need for "greater unityof purpose" among them.
"We cannot think only for ourselves. We cannot think only about survival from day to day, from year to year and from oneelection to another," he said.
In his speech, the fifth in a row since he assumed office in 2004, Singh described terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism as "major challenges to the unity and integrity of our country" and said the recent attacks in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and other parts of the country have shockedthe nation.
Strongly defending his government's decision to pursue the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the Prime Minister said the agreement would end India's nuclear isolation and open up newpathways for industrialisation of the country.
"The nuclear agreement that we are negotiating with developed countries will end India's nuclear isolation. It will open up new opportunities for trade in dual-use technologies, opening up new pathways to accelerateindustrialisation of our country," he said.
The nuclear agreement awaits clearance from the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group and the U.S. Congress before it cancome into effect.
New Delhi has already secured the approval for a India-specific safeguards agreement from the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.).
Touching on the economic front, he said the Reserve Bank of India was moderating the money supply growth to controlinflation.
"However, while making these efforts we should avoiddoing anything which hurts our growth," he said.
"I know how much each one of you is concerned about the recent rise in prices. The inflation we have seen this year is basically due to external factors. All over the world and in global markets the price of food, fuel and other commodities has been rising... We are taking determined measures to bringprices under reasonable control," Singh said.
"Our economy must grow at the rate of at least 10 percent every year to get rid of poverty and generate employment forall," he said.
The Prime Minister said he has sought cooperation from the states to tackle inflation. "I have urged all Chief Ministers to improve and strengthen the Public Distribution System to ensure availability of essential commodities to the common man at reasonable prices," he added. PTI
Singh also made it clear that India will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives with Pakistan if the issue ofterrorism is not addressed.
In his address on the 62nd Independence Day, Singh said the sacred shrine of Amarnath is a "shining example" of secular tradition and cautioned that "dividing people in the name of religion" could complicate issues further and pose athreat to the country's unity and integrity.
"In this hour of crisis, divisive politics will lead us nowhere," Singh said in his 45-minute speech from the heavilyguarded ramparts of Red Fort.
Among the dignitaries present were Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home MinisterShivraj Patil, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and B.J.P.
leaders Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Jaswant Singh.
"I appeal to all political parties to keep the long-term interests of J and K in view and come together to find apermanent solution to the problems of the state," he said.
In his speech, the Prime Minister touched on inflation, Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the Pay Commission bonanza for government employees and armed forces personnel and various welfare measures initiated by his government, which is gearingup to face the Lok Sabha polls due by May next year.
Singh, who has come under attack over soaring prices, said his government was taking "determined" measures to bringthem under "reasonable control".
Bringing cheers to lakhs of government servants and armed forces personnel, Singh announced that government has gone "beyond" the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission inincreasing their emoluments.
Turning to the challenges posed by communalism, extremism and fundamentalism, he said "politics of consensus, not confrontation" was required and cautioned that a dividednation cannot overcome the problems.
The Prime Minister spoke about last month's terror attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and said it had cast a "shadowover the efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan".
Afghanistan and India have blamed Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence for the July 7 suicide attack in which four Indians, including a Brigadier-level defence attache and a senior Indian Foreign Services officer, wereamong nearly 60 people killed.
Singh made it clear that Pakistan would have to end cross-border terrorism, saying without the issue being addressed "all the good intentions that we have for our twopeoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated.
"We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take. The terrorists and those who support them are enemies of people of India and Pakistan, of friendship between the two countries and of peace in the region and the world. Wemust defeat them," the Prime Minister said.
In his first detailed assessment on the over month-long Amarnath land transfer row, Singh said "dividing people in the name of religion can complicate these issues further which canalso pose a threat to unity and integrity of the country.
"The sacred shrine of Shri Amarnath inspires all Indians to march together. This shrine is a shining example of our secular tradition, where Hindu pilgrims have been looked afterfor years by their Muslim brothers," he said.
His comments came amid violence that has hit the state over the controversy related to the transfer of about 100 acres of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board for the conduct of annual pilgrimage to the holy cave in the mountainsin south Kashmir.
"Issues related to the sacred place, especially the issue of providing the best possible facilities to pilgrims, can only be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and goodwill,"Singh said.
He said the state requires an era of peace to enable itto catch up with the more developed parts of the country.
Expressing his anguish over the attitude of some political parties, Singh stressed the need for "greater unityof purpose" among them.
"We cannot think only for ourselves. We cannot think only about survival from day to day, from year to year and from oneelection to another," he said.
In his speech, the fifth in a row since he assumed office in 2004, Singh described terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism as "major challenges to the unity and integrity of our country" and said the recent attacks in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and other parts of the country have shockedthe nation.
Strongly defending his government's decision to pursue the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the Prime Minister said the agreement would end India's nuclear isolation and open up newpathways for industrialisation of the country.
"The nuclear agreement that we are negotiating with developed countries will end India's nuclear isolation. It will open up new opportunities for trade in dual-use technologies, opening up new pathways to accelerateindustrialisation of our country," he said.
The nuclear agreement awaits clearance from the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group and the U.S. Congress before it cancome into effect.
New Delhi has already secured the approval for a India-specific safeguards agreement from the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.).
Touching on the economic front, he said the Reserve Bank of India was moderating the money supply growth to controlinflation.
"However, while making these efforts we should avoiddoing anything which hurts our growth," he said.
"I know how much each one of you is concerned about the recent rise in prices. The inflation we have seen this year is basically due to external factors. All over the world and in global markets the price of food, fuel and other commodities has been rising... We are taking determined measures to bringprices under reasonable control," Singh said.
"Our economy must grow at the rate of at least 10 percent every year to get rid of poverty and generate employment forall," he said.
The Prime Minister said he has sought cooperation from the states to tackle inflation. "I have urged all Chief Ministers to improve and strengthen the Public Distribution System to ensure availability of essential commodities to the common man at reasonable prices," he added. PTI
