Dispel air of despondency, says PM in new year message

Mtoday news

New Delhi, Dec 31:  Against the backdrop of a series of scams, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight pitched for a "new beginning" in 2011, saying the "air of despondency" should be dispelled as efforts would be redoubled to cleanse the governing processes.

 

In a new year message, Singh said it was time to take stock of the year gone by and of the challenges that lie ahead and asked people to have faith in democracy as it has the "capacity to deal with infirmities and shortcomings" through course correction.

"Let us make a new beginning to the year. Let us dispel the air of despondency and cynicism," he said while wishing the people a happy new year.

Assuring people that he and his government would work with renewed resolve for their welfare, he said, "we will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges of inflation, clearnsing our governing processes, national security and making our delivery system work for the aam aadmi."


He underlined the need for believing in the "resilience of our democracy and its capacity to deal with infirmities and shortcomings through course correction."

The message from the Prime Minister has come in the backdrop of several scams like those related to 2G spectrum allocation and CWG, hitting the government which has put it on the backfoot.

It has also come at a time when there was growing concern over the rising inflation and the path ahead for the Congress-led coalition seemed clearly uphill.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi also wished people on the occassion of new year. "Greetings and good wishes for the new year," she said.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari expressed the hope that the country would strive towards making India a super-power.

"At the dawn of a New Year, BJP reiterates its commitment to work for the development of our beloved country and fellow citizens with special focus on women, farmers, labourers and youth and ensure that during this decade India attains its due position among the comity of nations as a super-power in true sense of the word," Gadkari said.

He said the country should work towards building a strong and united India, "free from terror, hunger, illiteracy and malnutrition".

The issue of corruption, on which the principal opposition has vociferously attacked the UPA government, also found mention in his statement.

"At the dawn of a New Year, we must resolve to intensify our crusade against corruption and work towards a clean, service-oriented and value-based politics," Gadkari said.

He insisted that we must resolve to promote "politics of sustainable and holistic development" and devote ourselves to this onerous task "mansa, vachna and karmana (in mind, words and deeds)".