archive: PM's address to the Nation
PM's address to the Nation
Editorial
Daily Excelsior
August 17, 1999
Title: PM's address to the Nation
Author: Editorial
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: August 17, 1999
Prime Minister AB Vajpayee during his address to the nation from the ramparts of Red
Fort on the occasion of 53 Independence Day makes it amply clear that national
security occupies top priority. He elaborates the same by informing the nation that
Agni-II missile is being mass produced for induction in the Army. This missile was
test fired after the previous Governments capped it for almost five years. The
predecessor Government had termed the Agni-I test firing as only Technology
Demonstrator. There is no denying the fact that the entire project was abandoned
under pressure to which three successive Governments led by Narasimha Rao, Devegowda
and IK Gujral succumbed to the detriment of national security. This happened despite
the fact that Pakistan had received M-11 nuclear capable missile from China in
semi-knocked down condition while North Korea has supplied full technology and
equipment to Pakistan for several variants of missiles. Agni-II is an improvement on
Agni-I in terms of range, accuracy, payload and can not only hit any city in Pakistan
even if fired from down South but also it takes within its range all important cities
and vital centres in China if positioned near northern or eastern borders. Further,
it can carry nuclear warhead. It is obvious that conventional warhead for this type
of missile is a frivolous exercise. It is meant to carry only nuclear warhead. From
this it follows that appropriate nuclear weapon has been readied without as much
saying a word about it. Its induction in the army would provide authentic nuclear
deterrent and enemy would be hard put to launch any nuclear misadventure, more so
because Agni-II can be carried by mobile launchers and thus its locations remain top
secret during actual war conditions as also peace-time.
The second significant point raised by Prime Minister relates to dialogue with
Pakistan. He minces no words that transborder terrorism has been accelerated by
Pakistan ever since its defeat in Kargil and that Pakistan has a long term plan to
take within its ambit entire India and not J&K alone. He thus makes it amply clear
that unless Pakistan stops training terrorists, organising their camps and sending
them to India to kill innocent men, women and children, there is no fun in having any
dialogue with Pakistan. Conducive atmosphere has to be created and Pakistan must
demonstrate its sincerity for living as a peaceful neighbour to make any dialogue a
meaningful exercise. He thus warns Pakistan to desist from all such nefarious acts as
it would fetch it nothing as India is ready to foil such evil designs and take all
steps to safeguard national security.
While all other accolades and promises have been avoided from his address because
India is in election-mode and eagle eyes of Election Commission take note and action
on any such promises, Prime Minister does mention some of the achievements of his
Government on the economic front. One can give full marks to Vajpayee Government for
keeping the economy in sound health despite highly volatile market conditions in
South East Asia and other world markets. The rupee has remained rock steady against
dollar. Our foreign reserves are at all time record of 33 billion dollars. Inflation
has dipped below 2.0 which is record for the last twenty years and food production
has gone up to reach record of 200 million tons in 1998-99. This is despite the fact
that there were alarming signals from world over, South Asia in particular and the
two month long Kargil war. Resilience of the economy stands manifested in that
Government has been able to spend additional 2000 crore on Kargil war without
imposing any further tax burden.
Soundness of economy has been confirmed on Saturday during the CCII meet where all
top economists and businessmen exuded enough of confidence that current growth rate
in industrial production would be maintained and it would be possible to achieve more
than 6% growth in GDP.
To escape any criticism from EC or the opposition parties, Prime reassures the
minorities that India is a secular nation and minorities would be given adequate
opportunities to allow them to play significant role in nation building. The second
promise is empowerment of women by reiterating that 33% reservation for women are
very much on his mind and the agenda would be pursued.
All in all Prime Minister mentions his vision of India which would be a power to
reckon with and backwardness besides poverty removed from the country which would be
free of want and hunger. Prime Minister who delivered short speech precisely because
like his predecessors, he possibly cannot offer accolades or announce more schemes
when election is less than month away.
Back
Top
|
