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| PM says friendship with Pak not at cost of own security | | | AGENCIES
Amritsar, May 11: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear that India would not compromise its security while reaching out to improve relations with Pakistan.
''We want good relations with Pakistan but will not tolerate any activity which threatens our security,'' he said while addressing election rallies at Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs and his home town and at the historic town of Tarn Taran, on the last day of the campaign for the fifth phase.
Expressing concern over the situation across the border, Dr Singh urged Pakistan to take steps to halt atrocities on the minority communities in the Taliban controlled areas of the country.
''We have already taken up this issue and will continue with our efforts in this direction so as to ensure the safety of minorities in Pakistan,'' he added.
Turning to the plight of the Sikh community across the border, Dr Singh said he was pained to learn that they were forced to pay 'jazia' (religious tax) to the Taliban for survival. The matter has been brought to the notice of the Pakistan government, he added while hoping for a positive solution.
Turning to the election scenario in his own country, Prime Minister said that only the Congress could provide a strong and stable government. Economic stability is a key issue in the current scenario when numerous countries have been hit by recession, he pointed out.
''Only the Congress has got the policies to tackle the recession,'' he added while pointing out that this global phenomenon had not affected India mainly due to the economic policies his government pursued in the last five years.
''I want to remind you the NDA pursued the very economic policies which we laid down when I was the Finance Minister,'' he said while claiming that their rivals had no economic agenda of their own.
On Indian black money in Swiss Bank accounts, Dr Singh sought to remind the Opposition that it was during his tenure as Finance Minister that mortgaged gold of the country was brought back. The economy of the country was brought back on the tracks when he was Finance Minister, he added.
He listed out a number of achievements of his government and highlighted schemes like NREGA which had given employment to many poor families, JNNURM which had taken care of urban development and the Mid day Meals scheme started in schools all over the country.
A large number of educational institutions were opened or are being opened in the country and the motive behind this was to provide 'quality education' to the youth so that they can get employment, he added while referring to the slogan 'Sanmanat Jawan, Khushal Kisan, Vidhvan Naujwan' (decorated soldier, progressive farmer and educated youth).
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