Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today declared that he would bow out of office after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and strongly backed Rahul Gandhi for the job. While answering on a potential contest between Rahul and Modi, during a media conference in Delhi today, Dr. Singh said, he sincerely believe that it will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as prime minister. Dr. Singh said, a strong leader also does not mean one could preside over the killing of innocents citizens in the streets of Ahmedabad.
Dr. Singh said, he has full confidence that the next Prime minister will be from a UPA coalition and and Congress Vice Preisdent Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials to be the Prime Minister.
Dr. Singh said, India's democratic constitution and institutions are the cornerstone of modern India. No one person or institution can substitute the countries democratic framework. He said, only time will tell on the success of Aam Aadmi party.
The Prime Minister, who faced a number of questions on corruption charges that sullied the image of UPA-II, asserted that the controversies surrounding coal blocks allocation scam and the 2G spectrum licences pertained to UPA-I and people had voted the coalition back to power in 2009.
Dr Singh also said there is much public concern on high profile allegations of corruption notably in regard to 2G spectrum and coal blocks allocation and cases related to land. Dr Singh also said any wrong doing in government decisions will be punished through a due process of law.
On economic front, the Prime minister said, India's growth momentum will revive soon and the country is set for better times. He said, the cycle of global economic growth is turning for the better and steps taken by the government to address domestic constrains are yielding results.
He said, even if the years of slow down is included, the rate of growth achieved in the past nine years is the highest for any nine year period. Dr Singh said, the number of people below poverty line in the country has comedown by 13.8 crores. Dr Singhpromissed to roll out more reforms in the comming months.
Dr Singh said, the country will continue to provide a hospitable environment for foreign direct investment. Admitting that the worry of rising inflation is legitimate, the Prime minister assured steps would be taken to rein in price rise. He also pointed out that the income of most people has also increased faster than inflation.
Prime minister said, his government has delivered the promise committed in 2004 on a new deal for rural India. This he said was substantially fulfilled through farmer friendly policies including raising support prices for farmers, expanding credit to farmers and through increased investment in horticulture, in rural development and rural infrastructure especially roads and electricity.
