6. MANMOHAN SINGH: THE SPEECHES

 6

THE SPEECHES

     THE SPEECHES IN 2004

           I. After assuming power Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the industrial houses not to utilize him as the cheque-spinning machine.

      II. On 24 August 2004,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to end the tyranny of the investigation agencies.

He said, “1.There must be a code of ethics for all individuals in public life.

2. The investigation agencies should not adopt investigative procedures that killed management initiative and stunted individual enterprise and risk-taking.

3. Management is an art and not science.

4 The art of management required individual initiative, creativity and willingness in the larger interest of the enterprise.

5. The Government could not depend purely on individual ethics or public opinion to deal with the malaise of corruption.

6. There had been a spurt in economic offences such as financial frauds.

7. A strong link had developed between economic offences and the anti-social and terrorist organizations.

8. The criminals could hide anywhere in the world.

9. One is living with a world of great uncertainty in public life and as such honest mistakes could be made. Therefore, the investigation agencies must distinguish between “honest mistakes” and “wilful defiance” of the rule of law”.

  

III.   Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on 6 October 2004, said, “1. Those who generate wealth are worthy of the nation’s respect. 2. Corruption in public life is another evil and 3. The tax system led to harassment and delays.”

       IV.  In connection with the “Teachers Day”,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “ The teachers are the builders of the Nation. I was a teacher.  I came to politics by accident.

V.   Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on, 12 September 2004, sent a circular to all ministries requesting them not to air out any policy decision without his approval. On the next day, he told the officials and Ministers that 2004 was not 1991.

VI.  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on 15 September, 2004 said, “ I am concerned about tackling issues like corruption and speeding up economic reforms”.

VII. On 18 September 2004 inaugurating the third Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the judiciary to do some soul searching.

VIII. On 19 September 2004,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  said that public functionaries including him should be brought under the ambit of a new law.  He promised that the UPA Government would enact this Act and the Freedom of Information Act as per the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the UPA. 

            IX. A meeting of the Secretaries of various ministries took place in October 2004. 137 Secretaries attended the meeting. In the meeting,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said,: 

“1. Civil Service must be more accountable, effective and transparent.

2.You must work without fear or favour. 

3. You must be innovative and produce results.

4. If you have any problem, you can approach me 

5. You must address the problems in the North-East, Kashmir and militancy affected areas sensitively”.

            X. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 3 November, 2004 said that reservation would not be imposed on the private sector.

XI.          Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on 14 November 2004 said, “The time is ripe to heal the wounds of the Kashmiris. They have suffered a great deal due to militancy during the past decade. I hope that my impending visit to Jammu and Kashmir would start a new chapter of peace”.

           XII.  On 21 November 2004, at Assam,  Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh said,  “I  request  the militant people to come to the negotiation table. There is nothing that could not be solved through dialogue. Human knowledge is growing in an unprecedented pace. The power flowed from ballot box and not through the barrel of the gun”.

SPEECHES IN 2005

         I. On 12 February 2013, Prime Minister Mammohan Singh ascribed corruption to over-regulation. Again on the same day, he said that no political party in India was free from black money.

           II. On 25 February 2005,  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function in New Delhi talked about the virtues of socialism, equality, federalism, pluralism, unity and even rule of law.

          III.  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on 30 April 2005, said, “ The laws and judgements did not help the Scheduled Tribes and the backward classes. I assure that the interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the backward classes in the “Temple of Modern India”  will be protected”.

IV. The Prime Minister of India, on 16 May 2005, said that his Government gave the weaker sections of society a new sense of belonging and ownership in the destiny of the nation. He said that he brought to the nation the economics of equity. He narrated the steps taken to empower the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women, children, the disabled and the senior citizens. He considered this as the most important achievement of his Government. He awarded to himself 60 percent on his performance.

V. At a function held on 22 May 2005 to celebrate the completion of one year of UPA Government in office, Prime Minister said, “The people of the country are impatient for change, impatient for a better quality of life, impatient for new opportunities. We will be failing them if we do not think out of the box and act with courage. Bold initiatives are called for in the economic front. The challenge before us is to combine the economics of growth with the economics of equity and social justice”.

VI.  On 28 May 2005  Prime Minister  said that the government was committed to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the UPA. He added that the differences with the Left parties would be sorted out.

The two-day National Development Council (NDC) meeting was held at Delhi on 27, 28 June 2005. All Chief Ministers attended the meeting. On that occasion the Prime Minister said,

“1. A candid review of the economic policy would be carried out.

2.A scheme would be devised to lessen the debt burden of the States.

3. Importance would be given to public- private partnership for the development of infrastructure.

4. The government after reducing its role as licensor or controller in many sectors was assuming the role as an umpire. 

5. There must be a “minimum security of tenure” to the IAS officers”.

On the same day, the Prime Minister, on his way to the USA, said that he would safeguard the interest of the nation till the end of his life.