PM's address to focus on Agra summit

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 12. The Prime Minister's Independence Day address this time may make no major announcement as Parliament is in session, but with his fourth successive speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he will have broken all previous records of the non-Congress heads of government.

Apparently, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee spent most of the weekend finalising his message to the nation, which is expected to focus on the Agra summit and send a clear message that there was urgent need for peace in the neighbourhood.

For some days now, the Prime Minister has been meeting officials from the Ministries of External Affairs and Finance and those dealing with the social sectors and infrastructure development to get inputs for the address. He has also received suggestions from people from all walks of life.

The general security situation in relation to the recent violence in Jammu and the activities of terrorists will be dealt with by Mr. Vajpayee at some length. The aim will be to reassure the masses that the Government was willing and able to cope with the perceived increase of pressure from the terrorists backed by Pakistan.

It was indicated today by officials in the Prime Minister's Office that Mr. Vajpayee would also deal with economic issues in detail - the need to tighten the belt and get on with the reform process, issues related to agriculture and industries, and above all to increase the pace of infrastructure development without which a faster rate of growth would continue to elude the country.

The coming Afro-Asian Games to be hosted by India will also find a mention - it will be an occasion for the country to put its best foot forward and will also offer an opportunity to prepare for the Olympics ahead.

Much has been said and reported about the Agra Summit - the Prime Minister addressed meetings of the National Democratic Alliance and leaders of all political parties, he spoke about the summit at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive committee meeting a fortnight ago and he dwelt on the subject at length while replying to the Lok Sabha debate on the summit.

But on Independence Day, he is expected to focus again on the need not to abandon the effort to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Pakistan, no matter how slim the chances were of that country adopting a more positive attitude, especially on its stance on cross-border terrorism.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Governor rushing to Chennai
Next     : Quake rocks N-E States