Nation & States 

Singh announces 'new deal' for farmers, will 
open integrated market

 
What is India News Service, June 25, 2004, 1630 hrs

Prime minister Manmohan Singh promised reforms and a \93new deal\94 for farmers. He said his government would create a single market for farm produce and finished agri-products. He also announced an energy package to help rural India.

\93With the introduction of value-added taxation, this integration of the Indian market will be further enabled,\94 he said Thursday in his first telecast to the nation.

Singh averred meeting social objectives need not mean sacrificing fiscal discipline: \93Equity and efficiency are complementary, not contradictory.\94

Agriculture must receive the priority it deserves. Public and private investment in agriculture has to be greatly increased, he said, adding that the many internal barriers to farm trade must go.

Don\92t cry: Singh spoke plain to \93well-meaning citizens\94 who express \93pained concern about the decline of morals and ethics in public life.\94

He told them \93there is no better way to deal with this incipient threat to our democracy than to meet it head on by joining public lives ourselves.\94

Security meet: Pakistan\92s top civil-military body Thursday vowed to rid the country of terrorism and religious militancy that has claimed more than 60 lives since May.

"If there is threat to Pakistan it is from (the) internal security environment," said President Pervez Musharraf, chairing the first meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).

Musharraf said he was disappointed by the boycott of the NSC meeting by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, leader of opposition in the national assembly. He also took exception to the absence of the North West Frontier Province chief minister from the meeting.

\91It was a joke\92: Former prime minister Vajpayee today explained away as "humorous" his remarks about having \93had enough\94. He said he would continue in public life, contrary to the impression he had given at the BJP conclave Wednesday.

Afghan factional fighting: Some 600 Afghan soldiers were deployed on Thursday to halt factional violence that has added to security fears as Afghanistan heads for its landmark polls.

"They are now patrolling the city, taken positions in public buildings, notably the government as well as the airport," a spokesman said. Five people died in last week's clashes between rival militia.

Overall:

PM offered deal for farmers: Singh said his government would create an integrated market and a power package to help rural India.

Musharaff chaired security meet: He said Pakistan would have to tackle internal strife and religious militancy. 

Afghan soldiers were deployed: They are out on the streets, doing their bit to contain violence among rival militia.

Vajpayee said he was joking: He dismissed the idea that he would quit politics, and explained away Wednesday's remarks as "humorous".

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