“Gandhiji had said that his mission in life was ‘to wipe every tear from every eye’… That message of Bapu resonates in our ears as we settle down to the business of government…
There have been impressive gains in terms of the educational and health status of the nation (since Independence). However, the benefits of this performance have not touched all our citizens in equal measure. Growth is not an end in itself. It is a means to generate employment, banish poverty, hunger and homelessness and improve the standard of living of the mass of our people…
To be able to devote our attention and energy to economic development that improves the lives of our people, we must ensure social and political stability, communal harmony and respect for the rule of law…
Economic reform is not only about freeing private enterprise from the shackles of bureaucratic control. It is also about making the government more effective, efficient and people friendly so that it can handle better the many tasks that only governments can perform. And, it is also about ensuring fair and transparent regulation of the market where this is necessary…
We will pursue economic reform and widen the space for individual initiative and enterprise, but even as we do so, we cannot forsake the obligation of running a government that works, and works for the people…
We will maintain our tradition of an independent foreign policy, built on a national consensus and based on our supreme national interests… We desire to live in a neighbourhood of peace and prosperity. We will actively pursue the composite dialogue with Pakistan. We are sincere about discussing and resolving all issues, including Jammu & Kashmir…
Internal security remains an important challenge. Terrorism poses a grave threat to the unity and progress of our nation. We shall combat it with all the resources at our command…
My fellow citizens, I share the feeling of well-meaning citizens when they express pained concern about the decline of morals and ethics in public life. There is, however, no better way to deal with this incipient threat to our democracy than to meet it head on by joining public life ourselves.
September 23, 2013
Concluding remarks at the meeting of the National Integration Council, New Delhi
“India is a country of great diversity. It is, therefore, inevitable that when we are discussing complicated issues, like the one we have been discussing, there should be reflection of this diversity of opinion. But I am very happy to notice that we are all agreed about the need to do our very best to promote communal harmony, to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and in the process, we must do all that we can, to stand by the values inscribed in our Constitution.
It is clear from what has been said today that threats from communal, separatist and obscurantist forces to our nation’s integrity, gender relations, harmony and equality for all our citizens must be dealt with firmly and promptly. This is also reflected in the resolution that we have adopted today.
Preventing incidents of communal violence is primarily the responsibility of the local administration and the police force. But it is not only the task of administration and police. It requires a national effort led by all of us in public life, particularly those involved in the political processes, and by all our citizens in every walk of life. It is also incumbent on all of us to promote actively an atmosphere conducive to the maintenance of communal harmony… and ensure that our deliberations in this Council result in concrete steps and improvements in the communal situation, in preventing atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in eradicating manual scavenging and preventing violence against our women.”
September 28, 2013
Statement in the General Debate of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly
“At a time when the world is facing multiple challenges, there is renewed attention on the role of the United Nations in advancing international peace, security and prosperity. However, never has scepticism about the UN’s capacity to do so been higher, or the external environment less propitious for multilateralism.
Nearly seven decades of the work of the United Nations hold one simple lesson and that is this: we are most successful when we adhere to the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter, basing our decisions on the widest possible consent and balancing equitably the needs and responsibilities of nations at different stages of development…
The UN Security Council must be reformed and restructured to reflect current political realities. More developing countries should be included as both permanent and non-permanent members… These objectives require the building of a new international consensus, suited to our time and rooted in today’s realities…
Growth and inclusive development are naturally important for all our countries. They require a supportive international economic environment… But the problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked more directly…
Speaking from this podium yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan spoke of making a new beginning. I reciprocate his sentiments and am looking forward to meeting him tomorrow. India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Shimla Agreement. However, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India…
We need to renew our commitment, especially here at the UN, for concerted, cohesive and continuing global action against terrorism.
January 13, 2014
Address at the Conference of State Minorities Commissions
“Pluralism is the keystone of India’s civilization and culture. Religious harmony, not mere tolerance, is the bedrock of India’s secularism. Enshrined in the Indian Constitution therefore, are several rights that are intended to protect the interests of all citizens, including religious minorities. It is also the solemn duty of the government to make every possible effort to protect and promote secular values and provide equality of opportunity to all religious minorities…
Over the years, the National Commission for Minorities and the State Commissions have played an important role in upholding the rights of minorities guaranteed by the Constitution, and in protecting their interests as equal citizens of a democratic nation… To maintain communal harmony, both majority communities and minorities have to work together to create an atmosphere of acceptance and harmony. In most parts of the country the relationship between majority and minority communities is harmonious, although there have been instances where this relationship has been put to severe test, especially of late…
I believe that our Government has tried its best to ensure social and economic justice to minority communities. The New 15-Point Programme for minorities that the UPA Government launched in 2006 aims at ensuring the well-being, protection and development of minorities. The focus of the programme is to ensure that the benefits of various development schemes and programmes of the Government accrue in equitable measure to minorities, especially those located in minority concentration areas. Wherever possible, 15% of the targets and outlays under various poverty alleviation schemes are required to be earmarked for minorities. A reasonable representation of minorities is also expected to be ensured in the government, including the public sector enterprises…
All minority communities do not form a homogenous group. Some have done reasonably well, benefiting from the processes of social and economic development. However, other minorities, especially the Muslim community in certain parts of our country, have not had an equal share of the fruits of development. This has most recently been established by the data provided in the report of the Sachar Committee which our Government had set up.
It is incumbent upon any democratically elected government to redress such imbalances and inequities. Towards this end, we have accepted 72 of the 76 recommendations made by the Sachar Committee and 43 decisions have been taken by the concerned Ministries to implement these 72 recommendations. Of the remaining 4 recommendations, action was taken on one recommendation but the matter is now sub-judice…
I think it is of utmost importance to remember that we have age old traditions of pluralism and tolerance. For India as a country, secularism has been a way of life practiced over centuries. We should be cautious of people who work against India’s secular thought by attempting to redefine secularism.
Our strength as a country lies in our unity. We should be vigilant against forces that seek to exploit our diversity in religion, language and culture to divide our people.
The State on its part must focus on taking care of the basic needs of education, health care, housing and employment of minorities and providing a framework for participation of minorities in governance and the processes of socio-economic development.”
February 11, 2014
Address at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Central Vigilance Commission
“It is not only the CVC but the whole institutional set up for fighting corruption that has undergone a transformation with the passage of time. This process of change has particularly picked up in the last 10 years. New laws have been enacted to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in administration. The Right to Information Act and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act are major examples… Greater use of Information and Communications Technology has also helped in increasing transparency and reducing opportunities for corrupt practices.
The last few years have also seen a very vigorous debate on corruption in our country, with civil society and media being active participants. As I have said earlier, I believe this debate has been on the whole for the good. It has led not only to increased awareness in the people about their rights and the responsibilities of public authorities but also a realization in public authorities of the heightened expectation that our people have from them…
On my part, I would like to briefly mention some broad issues which I believe are of abiding importance in our anti-corruption initiatives… It is important to remember that the ultimate aim of any anti-corruption mechanism is to contribute towards improvement of the processes of governance and delivery of services. This can happen only when we encourage bold and innovative decision making. Therefore, we must make sure that honest officers are not harassed for bonafide mistakes that they might make while taking well-meaning decisions… We must ensure the championing of the cause of the man of integrity in all our institutions. In the scenario in which this does not happen, decision making would suffer badly and instead of improving the processes of governance, we would end up stifling them…
Another balance that agencies like the CVC ought to maintain is between the need to be careful and detailed and the need for speed. Matters like disciplinary proceedings and grant of vigilance clearance must be disposed of in time. Excessive delays make such exercises meaningless.
There is a need for moderation in the public debate about corruption as well. In the past few years, we have been witnessing a very vigorous public debate in our country on matters relating to corruption, with accusations flying thick and fast. While informed discussion on such matters is certainly desirable, much too often we see a trivialisation of complex public policy issues. This is accompanied by unwarranted condemnation of the decisions taken and imputation of guilt and mala fide on the part of those who took those decisions…
February 21, 2014
Farewell speech to the 15th Lok Sabha
“In parliamentary life, there are bound to be differences among parties, but there must also be ways and means of finding pathways to bring minimum amount of consistency and reconciliation, so that the ship of the Indian State can move forward. And we have seen that on certain crucial matters, this House has the capacity, the will to rise above partisan strife, and to find pathways of national reconciliation. The manner in which the way the state of Telangana is being born, is yet another indication that this country is capable of taking some of the most difficult decisions, without any rancour, without worrying too much about the pros and cons of things that do not matter, and we can take pride in the fact that Telangana state, whose quest for being born was pending for the last 60 years, has ultimately seen the light of day.
Food Security Bill is yet another landmark legislation. It will create a ray of hope among deprived sections of our community. It will provide a ray of hope to encourage our farmers to produce more…
We are now entering a phase where the people of India will once again have an opportunity to assess, to pass their judgement on the performance of government, weaknesses of our government, achievements of the government, and it is in that process that once again, a new sense of consensus will emerge which will carry our country to new pathways.”
May 17, 2014
Farewell speech as PM
“I address you today for the last time as Prime Minister of India.
Ten years ago, when I was entrusted with this responsibility, I entered upon it with diligence as my tool, truth as my beacon and a prayer that I might always do the right thing.
Today, as I prepare to lay down office, I am aware that well before the final judgment that we all await from the Almighty, there is judgment in the court of public opinion that all elected officials and governments are required to submit themselves to.
Fellow citizens, each one of us should respect the judgement that you have delivered. The just concluded elections have deepened the foundations of our democratic polity.
As I have said on many occasions, my life and tenure in public office are an open book. I have always tried to do my best in serving this great Nation of ours.
In the last ten years, we as a country have seen many successes and achievements that we should be proud of. Today, India is a far stronger country in every respect than it was a decade ago. I give credit for these successes to all of you. However, there is still vast latent development potential in our country and we must collectively work hard to realize it.
As I leave office, my abiding memory will be the love and kindness that I have always received from you. I owe everything to this country, this great land of ours where I, an underprivileged child of Partition, was empowered enough to rise and occupy high office. It is both a debt that I will never be able to repay and a decoration that I will always wear with pride.
Friends, I am confident about the future of India. I firmly believe that the emergence of India as a major powerhouse of the evolving global economy is an idea whose time has come. Blending tradition with modernity and unity with diversity, this Nation of ours can show the way forward to the world. Serving this Nation has been my privilege. There is nothing more that I could ask for.
I wish the incoming government every success as it embarks on its task and pray for even greater successes for our Nation.
Thank you. Jai Hind”
Why should you buy our Subscription?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be misled and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package