PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS
(Continued from page 1)

us that our nation has once again demonstrated
its unshakable commitment to democracy.

Our nation continues to march on the path she
adopted when she became a republic in 1950.
With the successful completion of the last elec-
tion of this century, India stands taller in the
eyes of all democracy-loving people of the world.

It has been a long campaign. A lot of heat and
dust were generated during this general election.

But now that the election is over, we should put
the acrimony and bitterness of the last couple
of months behind us. And get down to the task
of nation-building. There is not a moment to lose.

The Opposition’s role in a democracy is no less
important than that of the Government. It is a
role mandated by the people and comes with a
lot of responsibility.

Constructive criticism is an essential input for
good policies and programmes. Consensus on
national issues is necessary for effective action.

I look forward to both constructive criticism
and consensus on national issues.

My countrymen, the world rushes ahead —
whether or not we look up from our narrow
concerns.

Neither do the tasks that confront us abate.
The number of young women and men jobs
must be provided continues to increase. Chil-
dren still go to bed hungry. A sense of insecur-
ity prevails.

The soul of India rebels against this reality.

Starting today, our Government has set itself
the task of implementing our Agenda for a
Proud, Prosperous India. It is my solemn pledge
to all of you that nothing shall prevent us from
the task of good governance.

We talk of the 21st century. In just ten weeks
from today, India along with the rest of the
world, will enter a new era of challenges and
opportunities.

We are pledged to the emergence of a ‘new’
India in the new century.

2 INDIA NEWS © November 1, 1999

Go gle

We can redeem this pledge through collective
effort, by resolutely meeting the challenges and
seizing the opportunities of the 21st century.
We may have been sent to Parliament under
the banners of different parties. But we have all
been sent for a common task: to make India a
strong, vigorous, prosperous and caring country.

To meet the challenges, we have to act now. In
the coming days, our Government proposes to:

© Speed up economic reforms and focus atten-
tion on infrastructure development. The new
century demands a new mindset.

e Introduce new laws for financial sector re-
forms so that India can keep pace with the
rest of the world.

Evolve a programme for achieving fiscal recti-
tude by improved expenditure management,
deep tax reforms and a new mechanism for
speedier restructuring and disinvestment of
Public Sector Units.

Promote investment, Including foreign direct
investment, by adoption of suitable measures
and removing bottlenecks that lead to costly
delays.

Re-arrange priorities of development by re-
deploying resources and strengthening insti-
tutions for providing to all:

© Safe drinking water

¢ Primary health services

e Primary education

e Rural roads

e Housing to rural homeless

In this task, we seek the participation of the
private sector.

My countrymen, all these tasks can be com-
pleted if we work together.

Let us proceed, as the Gita counsels us,

Bodhyanta parasparam—imparting wisdom to
each other.

The opportunities are unlimited. We can use
each one of them to our national advantage if
we stand united-both in prosperity and in the
face of adversity. India’s greatest asset is her
unity, and my Government is determined to
maintain this unity at all cost.

See PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS, Page 3