BackOurview| The PM delivers a damp squib
Ourview| The PM delivers a damp squib
PremiumPrime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort during the 65th Independence Day function in New Delhi on Monday. PTI photo
New Delhi: The eighth consecutive speech given by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day was a damp squib --- both literally (thanks to a steady drizzle) and metaphorically.
His speech gave no indication of a new future. What the Prime Minister offered was weak reassurances on issues such as inflation and corruption, and read out a laundry list of legislative and policy action that is already well known.
There were mentions of the Lokpal Bill, the Judicial Accountability Bill, a proposed bill on government procurement, the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill, the Twelfth Five Year Plan, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana, an improved Integrated Child Development Services scheme, National Green Tribunal and the Right to Food law.
The nation expected something more than this insipid sermon.
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