New Delhi, February 22: Admitting that there has been an “unhappy pressure” on the prices of food grains and products, the Government on Monday promised to tackle the problem even as it expressed confidence that it will aim at a growth rate of 8 per cent in the coming fiscal and 9 per cent in the next.
Declaring that the common man is at the core of the Government’s promise of faster growth, President Pratibha Patil on Monday said that highest importance was being given to ensuring relief to the common man on food prices.
In her customary address to the joint sitting of Parliament marking the beginning of the Budget session, she said the aam aadmi had to be protected against the ravages of the worst ever global economic crisis since the Great Depression and against the failure of the monsoon in large parts of the country.
The President, who spoke at length on a variety of issues, made it clear that India was ready to explore a meaningful relationship with Pakistan if it “seriously addresses the threat of terrorism and takes effective steps to prevent terrorist activities against India”.
Recalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s words that “the service of India means… ending poverty and ignorance… and inequality of opportunity”, she said, “Our country stands at a historic turning point. Never before were we so close as we are today to realising our national aspirations…”
—-PTI