Front Page   

This is our moment, let us not dither and shy away: Manmohan

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

“TOWERING PERSONALITY”: President Pratibha Patil releasing a book on Balram Jakhar (left) on his 85th birthday in New Delhi on Friday. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee attended the function.

NEW DELHI: Amid the raging controversy over the India-U.S. nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the country should not dither because of “fear of some ghosts in our mind.”

He was lamenting the polity’s excessive obsession with the past and ignorance about the future.

“The world is looking at India with renewed hope, as it did in the first decade after Independence. This is our moment, let us not dither, let us not shy away in fear of some ghosts in our mind, so that India may truly make its tryst with destiny,” Dr. Singh said. He was felicitating Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar on his 85th birthday here.

Observing that the country needed people of courage and conviction in public life, the Prime Minister said that far too much of political life was focussed on the here and now, and far too much of political discourse was obsessed with the past and ignorant about the future.

“We need people who can think into the future and look to the challenges of tomorrow and take the country forward. If we remain divided, defensive, disruptive in our discourse, our children and grand children will not forgive us. They will find us wanting in the scale of history for not having had the courage to grapple with the real challenges of today.” Dr. Singh said, “Our people expect great things from us, for, that is why they still have faith in the institutions of democracy.”

Noting that the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi led the country forward through difficult times of change, Dr. Singh said, “We must all seek inspiration from their effort and courage and not shy away from dealing with the challenges at hand.”

Recalling the contributions of Dr. Jakhar to agriculture and farmers’ welfare, the Prime Minister said, “Today’s generation does not know how deep was the crisis in Indian agriculture and our food economy in the 1960s, when the country lived a ship-to-mouth existence.”

It was the visionary leadership of Indira Gandhi, ably assisted by the former Finance Minister C. Subramaniam and other leaders like Dr. Jakhar that the people were able to survive that crisis, he said.

Today the country had launched a drive for a second Green Revolution and sought a quantum jump in agricultural production, farmer’s incomes and living standards.

Describing Dr. Jakhar as a towering personality, President Pratibha Patil said that in whatever capacity he worked he brought honour and prestige.

Noting that Dr. Jakhar always maintained that an economic policy was not complete without an agricultural policy, Ms. Patil said this was a sound economic inter-linkage.

With more than 70 per cent of the population living in rural areas, the farmers needed better and easier access to credit and marketing facilities, Ms. Patil said.

The marvels of scientific knowledge and biotechnology should be used to improve agricultural productivity.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi also recalled the services of Dr. Jakhar. —PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Janardhana Reddy escapes bid on life
UNPA: why not all-party mechanism?
‘Political uncertainty, if not instability, likely’
Left cannot stop government from talking with IAEA: Karat
A passage to Pakistan with media in tow
Basu dismisses Mamata’s remarks
BJP has many leaders who can grace the prime minister’s office: Yashwant Sinha
This is our moment, let us not dither and shy away: Manmohan
No information on defence panel with Sri Lanka: MEA
Iran should do more: India
Parliamentary committee raps Anbumani
The stage is set for an exciting series finale
Limited opportunities for boys from districts
Shoaib assaults Asif, sent back home
History favours India against Japan
From a badminton coach to hockey trainer
Shahbaz’s arrest ordered
“LTTE using civilians as shields”
Indian, Pakistani in Booker race
FM cautions against rising crude prices
Fortis Healthcare buys into Malar Hospitals
Civil aviation can attract $150 b investment
With tiger gone, leopard is the king of Sariska now
Garbage: Advocate Commissioners to monitor
Government to import cement
Sting operation: reporter arrested
Sting operation: notice to Delhi government, police
Two killed in Maoist attack in Jharkhand
Hike likely in petrol prices
Bail for four Memon family members
Bank strike on September 12
72 pilgrims killed in lorry accident
Tiruvattar bandh paralyses normal life
Action against officials involved: Chief Minister
Thennur Irattai Vaical yet to be desilted
Focus on ward-level disaster management
Where is the money to make it safe for schoolchildren? say officials
Attack comes after a series of setbacks
Merchiston Estate: cancellation of transfer sought
70 pilgrims killed in truck mishap
Mayawati bans student union polls
Bail denied
Sting operation mastermind held

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu