24 July : Seeking the cooperation of States in dealing with Left-wing extremism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asked the Planning Commission to design a holistic development programme for Naxal-affected areas.
He said the development programmes must be aligned with the special circumstances in these states.
“I have asked the Planning Commission to design a holistic development programme for these areas in consultation with states and other stakeholders,” he said, addressing the National Development Council meeting in New Delhi.
Dr Singh said there should be no doubt that Left-wing extremism has to …

24 May : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said inflation would come down to 5-6 percent by December and projected an 8.5 percent economic growth for this fiscal.
“Price continues to be a matter of deep concern. The government attaches highest priority to containing inflation so that there is no distress to the common man”, he said in his first press conference to mark the completion of one year of the UPA-II government.
The Centre, he said, would closely monitor the situation and “together with the state governments, take all corrective steps …

2 Feb : Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has urged the states lagging behind in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) to follow states successfully implementing the scheme.
Addressing NREGA conference in New Delhi on the completion of four years of the scheme, Dr Singh assured that delivery mechanisms will be improved.
Dr Singh said though several countries had faced very difficult economic situation last year coupled with scanty rainfall in the country, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) helped in providing jobs to the rural poor …

6 Jan : In the wake of recent outrage over Ruchika molestation case, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that it is the right of every citizen to have his complaint registered as First Information Report (FIR) with the police.
“Recently concerns have been expressed that very often if people go to register a FIR, there are obstacles that they have to experience, problems arising out of the existence of vested interests.
“I think these are type of concerns which must be addressed. It is the right of every citizen who …

New Delhi, November 18 :One of the senior-most journalists of the country and Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune group of newspapers, HK Dua, has been nominated by the President to the Rajya Sabha.
HK Dua has served as editor for over 15 years in four leading national dailies. He has been the Editor of the Hindustan Times, Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express and Editorial Advisor of The Times of India. He has served as Press Advisor to two prime ministers, and was India’s Ambassador to Denmark before taking up his present assignment …