Editorial
Daily Excelsior
August 17, 1999
Title: PM's address to the Nation Author: Editorial Publication: Daily Excelsior Date: August 17, 1999 Prime Minister AB Vajpayee during his address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 53 Independence Day makes it amply clear that national security occupies top priority. He elaborates the same by informing the nation that Agni-II missile is being mass produced for induction in the Army. This missile was test fired after the previous Governments capped it for almost five years. The predecessor Government had termed the Agni-I test firing as only Technology Demonstrator. There is no denying the fact that the entire project was abandoned under pressure to which three successive Governments led by Narasimha Rao, Devegowda and IK Gujral succumbed to the detriment of national security. This happened despite the fact that Pakistan had received M-11 nuclear capable missile from China in semi-knocked down condition while North Korea has supplied full technology and equipment to Pakistan for several variants of missiles. Agni-II is an improvement on Agni-I in terms of range, accuracy, payload and can not only hit any city in Pakistan even if fired from down South but also it takes within its range all important cities and vital centres in China if positioned near northern or eastern borders. Further, it can carry nuclear warhead. It is obvious that conventional warhead for this type of missile is a frivolous exercise. It is meant to carry only nuclear warhead. From this it follows that appropriate nuclear weapon has been readied without as much saying a word about it. Its induction in the army would provide authentic nuclear deterrent and enemy would be hard put to launch any nuclear misadventure, more so because Agni-II can be carried by mobile launchers and thus its locations remain top secret during actual war conditions as also peace-time. The second significant point raised by Prime Minister relates to dialogue with Pakistan. He minces no words that transborder terrorism has been accelerated by Pakistan ever since its defeat in Kargil and that Pakistan has a long term plan to take within its ambit entire India and not J&K alone. He thus makes it amply clear that unless Pakistan stops training terrorists, organising their camps and sending them to India to kill innocent men, women and children, there is no fun in having any dialogue with Pakistan. Conducive atmosphere has to be created and Pakistan must demonstrate its sincerity for living as a peaceful neighbour to make any dialogue a meaningful exercise. He thus warns Pakistan to desist from all such nefarious acts as it would fetch it nothing as India is ready to foil such evil designs and take all steps to safeguard national security. While all other accolades and promises have been avoided from his address because India is in election-mode and eagle eyes of Election Commission take note and action on any such promises, Prime Minister does mention some of the achievements of his Government on the economic front. One can give full marks to Vajpayee Government for keeping the economy in sound health despite highly volatile market conditions in South East Asia and other world markets. The rupee has remained rock steady against dollar. Our foreign reserves are at all time record of 33 billion dollars. Inflation has dipped below 2.0 which is record for the last twenty years and food production has gone up to reach record of 200 million tons in 1998-99. This is despite the fact that there were alarming signals from world over, South Asia in particular and the two month long Kargil war. Resilience of the economy stands manifested in that Government has been able to spend additional 2000 crore on Kargil war without imposing any further tax burden. Soundness of economy has been confirmed on Saturday during the CCII meet where all top economists and businessmen exuded enough of confidence that current growth rate in industrial production would be maintained and it would be possible to achieve more than 6% growth in GDP. To escape any criticism from EC or the opposition parties, Prime reassures the minorities that India is a secular nation and minorities would be given adequate opportunities to allow them to play significant role in nation building. The second promise is empowerment of women by reiterating that 33% reservation for women are very much on his mind and the agenda would be pursued. All in all Prime Minister mentions his vision of India which would be a power to reckon with and backwardness besides poverty removed from the country which would be free of want and hunger. Prime Minister who delivered short speech precisely because like his predecessors, he possibly cannot offer accolades or announce more schemes when election is less than month away.
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