Teflon Or Transparent?

POLITICS

On whether his government will complete its full five-year term
"There may be differences within the coalition but whenever a decision is taken its is taken throughconsensus... I have no fear that our government is going to fall.... It will complete its five year term. I have no doubts aboutthat... I don't think the time has come to go back to the people. We want to and we will complete fiveyears"

On the pressure and threats to withdraw support from Left parties
"I do not think they (Left Parties) will do so in the long run..... In a democracy some pressure does perform a useful function.....We will complete five years and with regard to pressure from Left, it is notunexpected."

On Left pressures on economic policies
"I am not unduly concerned by the criticism and controversies arising out of the coalition nature of the rulingcombine.. Rather these controversies give us an opportunity to introspect... I don't take such a pessimisticview (of the Left criticism)."

On UPA and coalition politics
"Government of the type that we run has been good. I have been able to reconcile the issues of many leaders to run thiscoalition... Of course the coalition does impose constraints. In some areas we cannot move as fast as we would liketo... It does impose constraints... But coalitions are a reality. We have to recognise the reality of our time. One has to think of efficient functioning of acoalition."

On the forthcoming elections in West Bengal and Kerala and the Left
"We are on different sides in Kerala and West Bengal and it is a fact that as elections draw nearer, political parties want to go all the way to improve theirprospects.... Some tensions can be expected as a prelude to (coming state)elections."

On LK Advani's charges that he has been the weakest Prime Minister
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I should be judged by not what Advani says but by what Ido... I am not a leader of such a political party that Advani was. How strong was Advani? He went to Karachi and paid homage at themazaar of Jinnah. The RSS did not like it and where was Advani as a result ofthat? .... I have done nothing to deserve these epithets. Whether I am the weakest Prime Minister or not should be judged by my action."

On whether he planned to come to the Lok Sabha as an electedrepresentative
"I did not have time to think about it, but you have set me thinking".

On rating the performance of his government on a scale of one to ten.
"Last time, when I made a comment, I was largely criticised by our own party people. This time I amwiser... It is for you people to tell how well we havefared"

On Sonia Gandhi: is she making him 'weak'?
"She is not weakening me but is an enormous source of strength for me. Ms Gandhi takes upon herself many of the functions which I may not be able to perform thateffectively... TheUPA Chairperson is also the President of the Congress party. As UPA Chairperson she has legitimate influence on the functioning of thegovernment"

On Congress party in UP and Bihar
"Our party is not as strong as it should be in UP and Bihar. It needs greater attentionthere"

On Rahul Gandhi - whether his accompanying the PM to Afghanistan and the Congress plenary in Hyderabadindicate some important post for him
"I would like all young party MPs to take more interest in public affairs as well as the running of Congress."

TEFLON PM?

On his 'Teflon' image despite many controversies surrounding the UPA Government
"I now know who wrote the Teflon story... I do have my responsibilities and amnot running away from them"

On the decision to de-freeze London bank accounts of Ottavio Quattrocchi
"The act of freezing or defreezing was not undertaken at the behest of the government. It was a functional decision of CBI taken as per the legal advise given to the CBI."

On the decision to dissolve Bihar assembly
"We did the right thing on the basis of material available to us at that point oftime... My government might not have had all the facts available when it took the decision in contrast to the Supreme Court which considered the matterlater... There is difference between an administrative act and a judicial act..."

On Supreme Court's judgement indicting the then Governor Buta Singh
"Even the apex court had two views on the matter as two of the five judges had expressed a dissenting opinion in thejudgement.... This makes it clear that even in the judiciary, there is difference of opinion and perception. This has to be taken into account".

On the possible return of Natwar Singh into the Cabinet
"I do not rule out anything. The Volcker issue is being enquired into. The Commission is still to complete itsprobe... The results of the probe would also be reviewed by the government...."

On whether the Congress party did not have able persons to head the External Affairs Ministry
"This is not the first time that the portfolio is being held by the Prime Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru had held the portfolio for a long time...To conclude there is shortage of able persons to hold the post is wrong."

On criminalisation of politics to chargesheeted leaders often finding Cabinetberths
"If such people were to be weeded out from the political process orgovernance, a consensus among all political parties was needed... We, andeverybody has to sit together and take a decision on this (whether such personsshould be allowed to enter political process through elections). Once someone iselected with a popular mandate. there is no provision that debars him fromoccupying a position in theCabinet."

On MPLADS scam
"I will today admit that when it was introduced (during Narsimha Rao'stenure) I was not in favour of it... Now the issue of scrapping the MPLAD Schemeor its future has to be decided by Parliament and other legislativebodies."

On demand for new states of Vidarbha and Telengana
"There is a commitment that is mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme about the creation of Telangana. We have to evolve a broad-based consensus to move forward. Efforts are on to evolve such a consensus,"

On the Allahabad High Court order quashing the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
"The government is contemplating measures for ensuring that the minority character of AMU is restored"

On Jammu and Kashmir
"Our policy on Jammu and Kashmir is clear... We want to create an environment where all people of all shades of opinion can feel a sense of belonging andparticipation.... The state has an elected government, and it had been recognised internationally that the elections were free andfair... After coming to office I have interacted with a number of separatist Kashmiri leaders such as Yasin Malik and Sajjad Lone...We are prepared to talk to Hurriyat"

On the increasing number of sting operations, many of which exposed politicians
"I want that the media should discuss this (sting operations) more to evolve aconsensus.... A public debate should be held in view of increasing stingoperations... Media should carry out its duty mindful of wider national interest".

On Naxal and other violence
"While violence is to be condemned and will be faced boldly by our police forces, we will also address the root causes of this alienation -- chronic poverty, illiteracy andlandlessness.... We have brought peace and security to the Northeastern region, to Jammu and Kashmir and to various troubledregions.... Government is talking to all sections of people outside the mainstream of political life with a view to bringing them around to a peaceful resolution ofproblem..... We have done this without compromising on our national interests...We will defeat terrorism... People have time and again shown that political power in India flows only from the ballot box and not from the barrel of the gun.

INTERNATIONAL

On India's foreign policy

"The government's aim is to promote the enlightened national interest of the country...The changes in policy have to be in tune with the changes in the international political scenario".

On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's statements
"We can choose our friends but not our neighbours"

On Pakistan and Indo-Pak Peace Process
"I can not do certain things, such as negotiate on transfer of the Indianterritory.... India is committed to a pragmatic and practical solution to all outstanding issues between the two countries, including Jammu andKashmir... India is pursuing a composite dialogue with Pakistan with theunderstanding that in South Asia we have not just a shared past, but a shared future and a shareddestiny... There was movement forward in the Indo-Pak relations, such as enhanced people-to-people contact, the bus services between the two countries and the opening of five points along the LoC for the divided families on the two sides to meet."

On Iran's nuclearprogramme, Indian vote at IAEA and joint statement issued by the P-5
"New Delhi's stand at the crucial IAEA meeting will depend on the draft resolution on the issue... I still believe that this is a matter which should be resolved through diplomacy anddialogue... The matter should be resolved within the ambit of the international nuclear watchdog.... Iran is a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty(NPT) and it must fulfil all international obligations.... Whatever decision the (Indian) government would take would be in national interest and which would not be affected by any pressure."

On remarks made by US Ambassador David C Mulford with regard to India's possible position on the Iranissue:
"No Comments"

On India's claim to a permanent seat at the UN Security Council
"India has a legitimate claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council and thereis a growing recognition worldwide about this but there could be some difficulties on theway.... India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and has been reaching out to various countries in terms of establishinglinkages... There is growing recognition by virtue of our commitment, potential and performance."

On Indo-US relations and his visit to the US in July last year
"The quality of relations between the two countries since then has beenupgraded. India and the US will review various bilateral initiatives, including the agreement on civilian nuclearcooperation, during President George W Bush's upcoming visit. It will be a time for us to review the status of our relations with the US. Some initiatives were taken with regard to cooperation in civilian nuclear power, science andtechnology, agriculture and between business communities of the two countries. It will a time for us to review where westand."

On pressures on the civil nuclear deal with the US
"I should make it quite clear that there is no question of bending. We have clear-cut objectives. We have to havea strategic programme, and a critical minimum deterrent. There is no question aboutthat... India is keen to have international cooperation in promoting trade in nuclear matters so that its energy security can get an addededge... Since 1974, India has been faced with technology denial regimes not only in the US but several other countries which later came together to form theNSG...We are seeking a brave world order wherein the NSG will cease to discriminate with India when it comes to trade in nuclearmatters.... There will be complete transparency... I will take the first opportunity to make a statement in Parliament on India's negotiations with the United States on the issue."

On the visit of U S President George W Bush
"I look forward to that trip... President Bush is an honoured guest... The two countries would review the state of the relations in the civilian nuclearprogramme, science and technology and other areas."

On whether the US President would address a joint session of Parliament
"The tour schedule has not been finalised so far."

On relations with other countries
"India is sought after everywhere and we are reaching out to everyone who wants to work withus... Our government has taken important steps to make the world adopt a more friendly approach tous....We have been able to improve our relations with many of our neighbours, including our biggest neighbourChina... The relations with US and China are better than ever before, while India has a strategic tie-up with EU".

ECONOMY

On economic growth
"The economy has recorded 7-7.5 per cent growth in the last three years and we are inching towards 8-10 percent... All our macro-economic indicators are robust and point to another year of over 7 per centgrowth... India today is the fastest growing nation... At the World Economic Forum, India was the starattraction.... Thereare some problems that the government will tackle with determination... I have reasons to believe that if we accelerate the pace of economic growth, there will be significant improvement in fiscalsituation... If you look at the cash position, some states are plush with cash. Their financial position was better than everbefore... Increased efficiency because of competition will add another 0.5-1 per cent to the economic growth."

On Tax structures
"We are committed to a moderate and broadbased tax structure and not confiscatory taxes... If the economy grows by 7-8 per cent that itself will create enough resources to meet our definedgoals... The increased competitive environment and expected enhancement of savings rates by 4-5 per cent from the present level of 29 per cent will help increase the economic growth by up to two percent.... This will help us go close to the target of 9-10 percent growth in next 4-5years...Many states today are flush with cash, a situation that was never witnessedbefore... We need to strengthen this mechanism to improve our fiscal situation further"

On the fiscal position vis-a-vis the announcements being made by the government
"Rome was not built in a day"

On Sensex close to touching the 10,000-mark
"We should have confidence in the regulatory system to control any malpractices that may creepin... India has an efficient regulatory framework, which is widely appreciated."

On three main achievements during his tenure so far
"National Rural Employment Guarantee Act , the Right to Information Act and launching of the Rural Health Mission The launching of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission programme in 63 selected cities and earmarking of Rs 1,74,000 crore for Bharat Nirman, aimed at rural infrastructure development,are the other highlights of this government."

On strengthening the infrastructure
"Our airports are buzzing with flights. Airports too are getting modernised with Hyderabad and Bangalore soon getting newairports.... I expect an investment of over Rs 1,70,000 crore in the National Highway programme in the next 7 years."

On privatisation of the airport modernisation programme and reforms in other sectors
"It is an important activity towards the development of infrastructure in thecountry... Telecom sector has been doing excellently. In roads and ports thereis tremendous activity. Modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports has been set in motion and work in Hyderabad and Bangalore is on and there were lot of action in the infrastructuresector..

On whether the new pay commission would put pressure on the states' fiscalsituation
"The last pay commission was set up in 1994. The time has now come to set up a new commission and we are making preparations forit. The situation had improved a lot in the last 20 months. Many of the states had cash surpluses, a situation that had never existed before."

On reforms in power sector
"We have to increase the generation capacity by 1,50,000 MW in the next seven years. We have to improve distribution and transmission also. That will require heavy investment"

On free power being offered in some states
"I have made myself very clear -- all public utilities have to price properly taking into account the paying capacity ofusers... It does not mean that the scope of power subsidies does not exist."

On the condition of poor farmers
"The government would infuse Rs 13,000 crore to strengthen cooperatives as part of reforming institutional credit to the farm sector... We are committed to expand agricultural credit in a bigway... In the last one year, agriculture credit had grown by 30 per cent...Steps would be taken for neutralising the risk to farmers... We have to take a practical view of the remedies that areavailable... There is a need to look at the possibilities of expanding the scopeof insurance though there are difficulties."

On the impact of Free Trade Agreements on Indian Industries
"We have to make efforts to learn to compete and I think Indian Industry has the ability tocompete... India is sought after everywhere and we are reaching out to everyone who wants to work withus.... India will sign a Free trade agreement with ASEAN by the end of this year.India already has a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Singapore and FTA with Thailand. Economic cooperation with Brazil, South Africa and Russia is being strengthened"

On low levels of wheat stocks
"You are right. Momentarily wheat stocks are low but we are on the threshold of harvesting a record wheat crop.