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Prez upset by Pak's lack of sincerity

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

President K R Narayanan on Monday expressed keen distress and concern that Pakistan had not reciprocated India's sincerity and iterated that action against terrorist organisations would continue relentlessly in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the joint session of Parliament on Monday, the President pointed out that there had been no letup in cross-border terrorism and vicious anti-India propaganda originating from Pakistani soil.

He pointed out that many innocent lives continued to be lost to acts of barbarism by those who cloaked them in the 'garb of a jihad'. "Pakistan bears the responsibility for these acts against humanity, which are a travesty of religion. Its protestations about its eagerness to resume talks with India will not carry conviction so long as it allows the terrorist guns and bombs to do the talking," he pointed out.

Narayanan said Pakistan should create an atmosphere conducive for meaningful talks and India would be more than ready to resume the dialogue process. The Army and the paramilitary forces are working under trying circumstances and the nation appreciates their supreme determination and sacrifice, he said.

The President stated that militancy in J&K was now increasingly confined to foreign mercenary groups, which had widened the scope for democratic activity in the state. He reiterated the government's readiness to have talks with every group in the state that abjured violence.

Referring to the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, the President pointed out that it had claimed thousands of lives, destroyed public and private property worth thousands of crores and left many people homeless. He said the Union and state governments have been working closely in relief and rehabilitation operations throughout the state.

"I compliment the jawans and officials of the Army, Air Force and Navy for their outstanding efforts."

The President said Centre-state relations continued to be harmonious and the inter-state council and its standing committee had been meeting regularly. "This augurs well for our democracy and federal polity. The chief ministers' conference on internal security in August helped in the evolution of a better understanding and greater co-ordination between the Centre and the states in dealing with militancy, terrorism and organised crime," he pointed out.

Narayanan said agriculture continued to provide a livelihood for most of India. "Our hard-working kisans deserve applause for the record foodgrain harvest of 209 million tonnes last year. Our buffer stocks have crossed an all-time high of 40 million tonnes. Today, India has become the largest producer of milk and the second largest producer of rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables."

He emphasised that to protect Indian farmers against unfair global competition, import duties were increased on many agricultural commodities, including edible oil.

Agencies add: Narayanan asserted that India was committed to further strengthening its strategic response capability to meet any eventuality.

"India's external and internal security is the highest priority for the government. We are committed to further strengthening the country's strategic response capability to meet any eventuality," Narayanan said.

He said a Group of Ministers had examined the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee on the national security system and would soon submit its proposals.

The President referred to the maiden flight of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft last month and lauded the dedicated work of scientists and engineers for this aeronautical achievement as also for their path-breaking accomplishments in missile development.

Narayanan cautioned that economic reforms aimed at achieving a nine per cent growth rate could derail unless accompanied by judicial, administrative, educational and labour reforms.

Asking both the Centre and states to adopt faster and balanced development as the common mantra, Narayanan said the government should encourage large-scale investments in labour intensive sectors in which India commanded a significant competitive advantage.

To fortify self-reliance, create more employment and remove poverty, Narayanan said that the government would encourage large-scale investments in sectors like garments, light engineering, toys, handicrafts, leather and Information Technology-enabled services.

"The last decade's experience has clearly shown that economic reforms can yield the desired results only if they are fully complimented by administrative, judicial, educational and labour reforms," he said.

"We need to set an ambitious target of nine per cent annual growth for the next 10 years to double per capita income and halve poverty," he said.

Observing that improvement of infrastructural links had also been the focus of bilateral co-operation with its neighbours, Narayanan said a third broad gauge rail link with Bangladesh had been restored, further promoting close people-to-people relations.

The operationalisation of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement is expected to significantly increase economic linkages between the two neighbours, he said.

New Delhi looked forward to welcoming Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga in the capital later this week and to review with her the range of 'excellent' bilateral relations, he said.

Narayanan said his visit to China last year and the recent visit of influential Chinese leader Li Peng to India had further developed bilateral relations.

"We are committed to friendly and good neighbourly ties with China, based on Panchsheel and mutual sensitivity to each other's mutual concern," he said.

Full text of the President's address to Parliament

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