anirudhsankar/PMIndia-SpeechDataset-2004-2024 huggingface dataset:
Response by PM at the 10th ASEAN-India Summit
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: November 19, 2012 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Response by PM at the 10th ASEAN-India Summit I sincerely thank you for your support for India-ASEAN partnership and your commitment to further strengthen and broaden it. I am also grateful for your valuable thoughts and suggestions on the future direction of our relationship. I also look forward to meeting you bilaterally here and in Delhi. I also thank the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group for its report on India-ASEAN Partnership. The Group’s recommendations provide valuable guidance for our deepening partnership, not only for mutual benefit, but also for peace and stability, growth and prosperity in the wider Asia-Pacific region. I have no doubt that the conclusion of the Agreement on Trade in Services and Investments, together with our existing Agreement on Trade in Goods, will be a springboard for rapid expansion in our economic relations. The promising initiatives for cooperation in diverse sectors will add additional depth and range to our cooperation. India’s large markets and rapid growth offer enormous opportunities for investments. We are taking a series of steps to further improve investment environment and accelerate growth. We look forward to increased ASEAN investments into India. At the same time, India will offer its own resources, expertise and experience to support growth and development in ASEAN countries, where such needs exist. I am pleased that Indian private sector has increased its presence in the region. I would also like to stress the importance of creating an environment that makes it easier for our professionals, entrepreneurs, students and tourists to travel between India and ASEAN countries. Improved connectivity between India and ASEAN will be vital for deepening our economic integration as well as our strategic partnership. India and ASEAN have a shared interest in maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and disaster management. We would like to see the emergence of an open, balanced, inclusive architecture that promotes peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region. This is a time of challenges in the region, but also of immense opportunities to shape its future. I am convinced that India and ASEAN can play an important and constructive role in building the regional architecture. Tomorrow, we will participate in the seventh East Asia Summit and launch the RCEP negotiations. This 10th ASEAN India Summit in Phnom Penh is a significant milestone in our partnership. There is great expectation for the future. I am confident that India and ASEAN countries will build a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Commemorative Summit provides us an occasion to define our vision for the future. Excellencies, I look forward to receiving you in New Delhi for the Commemorative Summit. Once again, I would like to thank our Host Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Sen for their very warm hospitality and for Cambodia’s role in helping us to scale new heights in the ASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership. Thank you.
PM's speech at the banquet hosted in the honour of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: November 6, 2012 New Delhi

PM's speech at the banquet hosted in the honour of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada Your Excellency Prime Minister Harper, Madam Laureen Harper, Distinguished Guests, I and my wife are delighted to welcome you, Mr. Prime Minister, and Madam Harper, on your second visit to India. We have very warm memories of our visit to Toronto in 2010. We are therefore glad to have this opportunity to reciprocate your very gracious hospitality on that occasion. Mr. Prime Minister, we welcome you here as a friend and as an ardent advocate of closer ties between India and Canada. Your vision for this relationship and your sustained commitment to pursue it has placed our ties firmly on a growth path. You have worked not only to expand opportunities, but also to address concerns in our relationship. The civil nuclear agreement of June 2010 heralds a truly changed paradigm in our cooperation. We also admire your stewardship of Canada at a time of great challenge for the global economy. Your contribution to the G-20 process and your efforts to deepen Canada’s global engagement, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, are noteworthy. Your Excellency, India and Canada have every reason to have a close partnership. We are defined by democracy and diversity. We face many similar challenges and we have a common interest in a peaceful and stable Asia Pacific region. Our economic synergies hold enormous potential for mutually beneficial partnerships. More than a million Canadians of Indian origin are a testimony to the values that our two societies deeply cherish. They form an enduring bridge of friendship between our two countries and I am pleased to see some of them here today. Your Excellency, At the dawn of India’s independence, Indian and Canadian leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Louis Saint Laurent and Lester Pearson defined a vision of great promise and potential for this relationship between our two countries. Subsequently, for reasons that we need not dwell on tonight, we were adrift for many years. Now, however, we have set a new course in our relationship. I believe that we stand at the cusp of a historic moment in India-Canada relations. As we discussed today, exciting opportunities await us in diverse fields such as energy, education, agriculture, mining, science and technology, defence, counter-terrorism and the knowledge economy. As Governments, we should, in partnership with our institutions and businesses, seek to harness the full potential of our cooperation in these areas. I am confident that, with your visit today, we will add further momentum and purpose to the new and enriching journey that has already begun for our two countries. With those words, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I request you to join me in raising a toast: - to the health and happiness of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs Laureen Harper; - to the continued growth of the India-Canada partnership; and - to the happiness and prosperity of the friendly people of Canada. Thank you.
PM's statement to the media at the press conference with the Prime Minister Gillard of Australia
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: October 17, 2012 New Delhi

PM's statement to the media at the press conference with the Prime Minister Gillard of Australia Your Excellency Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, It is a great honour to welcome Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her first State Visit to India. Relations between India and Australia are characterized by expanding trade and investment ties, increasing defence cooperation, education and cultural linkages and growing people-to-people interaction. Our strategic partnership is responding well to the significant transformations in our region and to the developmental aspirations of our two peoples. Prime Minister Gillard and I have had substantive discussions on measures to give greater content to our relations. I am extremely satisfied with our discussions. I have no doubt that our understandings, as reflected also in the agreements that have just been signed, herald a phase of more intense and structured cooperation between our two countries. In our talks earlier, we have agreed to hold annual meetings at the summit level, either bilaterally or during multilateral events. We have also agreed to launch a Ministerial-level Dialogue on Energy Security, establish a Water Technology Partnership and start negotiations for an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. As you are aware, under Prime Minister Gillard, the Australian Labour Party has articulated a new policy on uranium sales to India. This is recognition of India’s energy needs as well as of our record and credentials and I have expressed to Prime Minister Gillard India’s appreciation of this development. We have agreed to begin negotiations for an Agreement on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation, which will precede actual cooperation. There is great potential to further strengthen India-Australia bilateral trade and investment relations, which continue to show robust growth; our bilateral trade in goods was US$ 17.4 billion in 2011-12, while India’s investments in Australia are at almost US$ 11 billion. Our negotiators are working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which will further facilitate trade and investment and make them more broad based and sustainable. We are also developing wide-ranging cooperation in defence and security issues, including the fight against terrorism, in all of which we regard Australia as an important partner. Prime Minister Gillard yesterday inaugurated the Australian Festival in India. Culture is an excellent medium to bring our two countries closer together. We are establishing ICCR Chairs of Indian Studies at five Australian Universities. I have also conveyed to Prime Minister Gillard our appreciation of the steps being taken by the Australian government to address the issues affecting Indians and Indian students in Australia, which have had a salutary effect. This visit by Prime Minister Gillard is bound to open a new chapter in India-Australia relations. We look forward to the further strengthening, deepening and widening of these relations. Thank you.
PM’s media statement during State Visit of President of the Republic of Burundi to India
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: September 18, 2012 New Delhi

PM’s media statement during State Visit of President of the Republic of Burundi to India It’s a great honour to welcome President Nkurunziza to India on his first state visit to India. India and Burundi enjoy warm and friendly relations. Our official exchanges, trade and investment linkages and people-to-people interactions are growing steadily. Earlier today, President Nkurunziza and I reviewed our relations and we have agreed to further promote and expand our ties in an all-round manner. The Memorandums of Understanding signed today in the fields of rural development, education, health and medicine will enable our two countries to undertake structured cooperation in these vital areas of human development, where India’s experience can be of some relevance to Burundi. There is also great potential to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations. I requested President Nkurunziza to facilitate Indian investment in agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in line with Burundi’s national development goals and policies. India has also contributed to the development of Burundi’s human resources through the pan- African e-network project, training programmes and scholarships. Burundi will be hosting the India-Africa Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, a Vocational training Centre and Cluster of Biomass Gasifier Systems offered by India under the India-Africa Forum Summit initiative for capacity building and development. India is also setting up an Information and Technology Centre of Excellence there. I hope these institutions will be operational soon and benefit not only our friends from Burundi but the whole of Africa. India is committed to the development of infrastructure in Burundi. In addition to the US$ 80 million line of credit for the important Kabu hydroelectric project currently under operation, we have agreed to extend a new line of credit worth over US$ 40 million to Burundi for a farm mechanization and food processing project. We also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including our fight against the common threat of piracy and the urgent need for reform of the United Nations Security Council. India deeply appreciates Burundi’s support for its candidature as a permanent member of the reformed and expanded Security Council. This visit of President Nkurunziza has imparted a fresh impetus to our joint efforts to strengthen our bilateral relations. With these words, I am confident that our ties will make rapid progress in coming years. I thank you.
PM’s media statement during the state visit of President of Palestine
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: September 11, 2012 New Delhi

PM’s media statement during the state visit of President of Palestine “It is an honour for me to welcome President Mahmoud Abbas on his State Visit to India. He is no stranger to India and, indeed, we regard him as a very special friend. President Abbas and I have held useful discussions aimed at further expanding and strengthening the India-Palestine partnership, which is rooted in history and flows from our national ethos. Support for the Palestinian cause has been a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy. During our meeting, I reiterated India’s firm support for the struggle of the Palestinian people to achieve a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel. India had played an active role in supporting the efforts of the State of Palestine to secure full member status at UNESCO. We will continue to support Palestine’s bid for full and equal membership of the United Nations. We also look forward to early resumption of peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis leading to a comprehensive resolution between the two sides. Bilaterally, India will continue to support the development and nation-building efforts of Palestine. The MOUs signed today are indicative of our commitment to contribute in the areas of Information & Communication Technology, vocational training and education. The Government of India will also contribute US Dollar 10 million to Palestine’s budget for this year to help address its financial requirements. Later today, President Mahmoud Abbas will inaugurate the new Palestinian Embassy building, which has been built with Indian support. The building is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. President Abbas and I also exchanged views on regional developments, particularly the developments in the West Asian and the Gulf region. There is a great degree of similarity in our views. We both agree that the developments in the region must be addressed through political dialogue and peaceful means without recourse to violence and outside interference, while taking into account the legitimate aspirations of all people. I look forward to working together with President Mahmoud Abbas to further carry forward our very special bilateral relations. I now invite President Abbas to make his statement.”
Remarks by the PM after witnessing the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 from Sriharikota
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: September 9, 2012 Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

Remarks by the PM after witnessing the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 from Sriharikota “I am delighted at having witnessed today’s launch of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – C21, carrying two foreign satellites. On behalf of all fellow Indians, I warmly congratulate the Department of Space and all members of the Indian Space Research Organisation fraternity for this spectacular success. As ISRO’s 100th space mission, today’s launch is a milestone in our nation’s space capabilities. I would also like to congratulate EADS Astrium of France and Osaka Institute of Technology of Japan for the successful launch of their satellites. The launch of these satellites on board an Indian launch vehicle is testimony to the commercial competitiveness of the Indian space industry and is a tribute to Indian innovation and ingenuity. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the commencement of our space programme. I am also happy to see here today many stalwarts of our space programme in its earlier years, including the Project Directors of our initial space missions. Given the string of successes since then, we often forget how challenging space technology is and what a relatively new field it continues to be. India is justly proud of its space scientists, who have overcome immense odds to set up world class facilities and develop advanced technologies. We owe a great deal to pioneers like Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Prof. Satish Dhawan. I remember working closely with Prof. Dhawan when I was a Member of the Space Commission in the late 1970s, and I am privileged to have had this long association with our space endeavours. It is befitting that this new state-of-the-art mission control centre has been named after Prof. Satish Dhawan. Questions are sometimes asked about whether a poor country like India can afford a space programme and whether the funds spent on space exploration, albeit modest, could be better utilized elsewhere. This misses the point that a nation’s state of development is finally a product of its technological prowess. The founding fathers of our space programme faced a similar dilemma, but they persevered in pursuing their vision. When we look at the enormous societal and national benefits that have been generated in diverse fields, there can be no doubt that they were right. Equally, I have no doubt that ISRO will build on these glorious traditions and scale still greater heights. The ISRO community has always been a source of inspiration to our country through its quest for the stars. I wish all of you the very best as you continue the journey to push the boundaries of science and technology, and reap its benefits for society and for accelerated social and economic development of our great country. Jai Hind.”
Transcript of PM's statement to Media outside Parliament
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: September 7, 2012 New Delhi

Transcript of PM's statement to Media outside Parliament “We have just ended a wasted session of Parliament. Both Houses were paralysed because the CAG has issued a report, which rightly or wrongly, makes certain allegations about the public functionaries. We have great respect for the institution of the CAG, but if we respect this institution, we must be willing to debate its findings in the Public Accounts Committee, or even on the floor of the Parliament, which we have always been willing. The Opposition chose not to take advantage of the settled institutional practices dealing with the reports of the CAG, and insisted on disrupting the Parliament. This is a negation of democracy. If this thought process is allowed to gather momentum, that will be a grave violation of the norms of Parliamentary politics as we have understood it. India is faced with many problems – there are problems of rising communal tensions, there are problems of regional and ethnic tensions, there are problems of terrorism, there are problems of Naxalism. Parliament should have debated all these issues. But Parliament was not allowed to discuss these very important issues before the country. On the economic front, the world as a whole is faced with serious economic difficulties, grappling with recession, and we are trying to prevent India getting affected by what is happening in the outside world. Parliament should have discussed these issues – what is our economic strategy to deal with these global tensions, these global developments – but Parliament was not allowed to do any of these things. The result is, Parliament which is the forum, where we articulate our people’s felt needs and felt urges, was totally paralysed. I would like my countrymen and countrywomen to make up their minds, if this is the right way to serve our functioning democracy. We take pride in the fact, that we, since independence, have been a practising, functioning democracy. What we have witnessed in this session is a total negation of that, and all right-thinking people in our country should stand up and unitedly come up with the voice that come what may, Parliamentary institutions must be allowed to function with the norms as we have known them since India became independent. ”
PM's statement at the Joint Press Conference with the President of Tajikistan
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: September 3, 2012 New Delhi

PM's statement at the Joint Press Conference with the President of Tajikistan I have great pleasure in extending a very warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, on his fifth State Visit to our country. Tajikistan will celebrate the 21st anniversary of its independence on September 9. On this occasion, I wish to convey our best wishes to the people of Tajikistan and to congratulate President Rahmon on sagaciously guiding the destiny of his country for the last two decades. Tajikistan is a key partner of India in the Central Asian region. We recently commemorated two decades of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. President Rahmon and I agreed that in view of the broad progress made in our bilateral relations, particularly in defence and security cooperation, we should elevate our relations to a ‘strategic partnership’. President Rahmon and I are also in agreement on the need to enhance our trade and investment relations. I conveyed to President Rahmon our desire to see an early accession of Tajikistan to the WTO, which would assist in enhancing our bilateral trade. We also discussed opportunities for investments in free economic zones in Tajikistan. We hope to send a delegation from the private and public sectors to explore investment opportunities in these zones. Information technology, e-connectivity, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, textiles, leather goods, mining and renewable energy are some of the areas with high potential. To intensify our developmental partnership, India has offered to undertake a series of development projects in Tajikistan. These include the setting up of an IT Centre of excellence, an e-network including tele-education and tele-medicine, medical centres, language laboratories, a fruit and vegetable processing plant and an Entrepreneurship Development Institute, as well as supply of agricultural machinery. We have also decided to enhance the number of training slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation training programme from 100 to 150 slots annually. Cultural and people to people ties between our two countries date back centuries. The agreements signed today in the fields of culture and education will help renew such contacts. The resumption of direct air links between New Delhi and Dushanbe by Tajik Air is a welcome development. However, surface connectivity challenges hinder the faster growth of our bilateral ties. We agreed to explore the possibility of establishing transport corridors, including rail lines, in cooperation with other countries of the region. India and Tajikistan have common concerns regarding regional developments. President Rahmon and I exchanged views on the situation in the Central Asian region and beyond, particularly in the context of the security transition in Afghanistan. We also agreed to deepen our counter-terrorism cooperation. I once again welcome President Rahmon to India and now invite him to make his remarks.
PM's statement to the media at Parliament House
Speaker: Dr.Manmohan Singh
Date: August 27, 2012 New Delhi

PM's statement to the media at Parliament House Ladies and Gentlemen, It has been my general practice not to respond to motivated criticism directed personally at me. My general attitude has been: Hazaaron jawaabon se acchi hai meri khaamoshi Na Jaane kitne sawaalon ki aabroo rakhi But this is one occasion where I do want, and I ardently wish that I should be given the opportunity to speak to the Parliament, and also the public at large, and take them into confidence, but I am sorry that the House is not allowed to function, and that the BJP is determined to disrupt the normal functioning of Parliament. I wish to assure the country that we have a very strong and credible case, the observations of the CAG are disputable, and they will be challenged when the matter comes before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee. So once again I appeal to the Opposition to come back to the House, to debate all these issues, and let the country judge where the truth lies.