NEW DELHI, May 24 � Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday advised north-eastern States to ensure utilisation of Central funds allocated to the Region.
Addressing a press conference organised to mark completion of one year of UPA II Government, the Prime Minister said that allocation for the north-eastern States was highest ever. �We have increased the amount of money and allocation has never been so high. �I put it on their wisdom to see that funds are utilised,� Dr Singh said.
The Prime Minister�s statement assumes significance in the wake of reports of under utilisation of funds. A Parliamentary Panel has expressed its dismay that only 56.8 per cent of allocated funds have been utilised. The Parliamentary Standing Committee�s report was tabled during the recent Budget Session which stated it was disappointed to note that utilisation of funds was low.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister made it clear that his government does not look at terrorism through the prism of religion and was ready to tackle it effectively. �Our government�s policy is whatever may be the source of terrorism, whether it is Muslim involvement or Hindu involvement, I think we must tackle that problem effectively,� he said.
Singh said terrorism was a major national security issue which was a matter of concern and it has no religion. �Terrorism has no religion.
Terrorism which is being sponsored by particular religious elements, it has to be dealt with effectively, purposefully,� he said. The Prime Minister said his government was determined to tackle the threat of terrorism and ideological extremism of various kinds.
The Prime Minister, however, denied that the government had underestimated the Maoist insurgency, which he again described as the �biggest� security challenge the country faces.
�If you remember I have always been saying that Naxalism is the biggest security challenge. So it is not correct to say that we have underestimated the magnitude of the problem�.
The Prime Minister said he was ready for dialogue if separatists shed violence and reiterated that his government followed a �zero tolerance� policy against human rights violations.
Addressing journalists for over an hour at the Vigyan Bhavan on a range of issues, ranging from Maoist violence and Jammu and Kashmir to his equation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the future of Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh was categorical that he was not going anywhere just yet.
�I have been given a work and it is incomplete yet; and till I complete it, there is no question of my retirement,� he said, putting to rest speculation that he may not be entirely in control.
Rahul Gandhi, he said, would be a �very appropriate addition� to the cabinet �as and when he is ready�.
The matter had been discussed with him at a number of occasions but Rahul Gandhi was reluctant to give a positive answer. �He is doing a good job... he has duties to perform in reviving the Congress party.�
Answering a question on his own performance, a confident Manmohan Singh, who answered questions in a matter-of-fact manner in his characteristic monotone, said he was �satisfied� with his performance in the last six years but felt he �could do better�.
Sceptics had their answer when the economist-politician declared that his government would complete its five-year term, but declined to do any ball gazing for the next election.
�I have every reason to believe that we will complete our term... Although we are a coalition government, we have given our country a government which works, which has delivered high rates of growth, which has accelerated the process to inclusive growth.�
There was �no question� of retirement, an assertive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday while accepting that he sometimes felt that �young people� like Rahul Gandhi should take over.
In Manmohan Singh�s view, the Congress had not been weakened by the controversies over Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh�s utterances or by former junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor, who quit in the wake of the Kochi-IPL controversy.
�I don�t have any such feelings. I welcome a dialogue between ministers ... we are a democracy,� he said, but also added: �It is not good that this (cabinet issues) should be aired in public.�
On the much discussed equation with Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said �there was no question of any gap between me and her�.
�Any elements of distrust or mistrust are not there between her and me,� he added.
Injecting perhaps the only note of humour, he also took on a question of whose advice he valued the most - his wife or Sonia Gandhi.
�I am privileged to have advice of Sonia Gandhiji and my wife,� the phlegmatic Prime Minister replied.
�Both deal with different subjects and I welcome both their advice,� he said, prompting laughter in the packed hall. The Prime Minister allowed himself a smile too.
