Manmohan Singh Quotations

Our foreign-exchange reserves when I took over were no more than a billion dollars; that is, roughly equal to two weeks' imports.

We are a mixed economy. We will remain a mixed economy. The public and private sector will continue to play a very important role. The private sector in our country has very ample scope and I am confident that India's entrepreneurs have the capacity, and the will to rise to the occasion.

Together with international unity and resolve we can meet the challenge of this global scourge and work to bring about an international law of zero tolerance for terrorism.

Unity and secularism will be the motto of the government. We can't afford divisive polity in India.

If you don't have a functioning financial system the world economy won't be revived. All the major economies have their responsibility to assist at a pace which is required to clean up the balance sheet of the banking system and to ensure that credit flows are resumed.

The Chinese have certain advantages. The fact that it's a single party government. But I do believe in the long run the fact that India is a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. Our system is slow to move but I'm confident that once decisions are taken they are going to be far more durable.

India happens to be a rich country inhabited by very poor people.

My top most priority is to deal with India's massive social and economic problems, so that chronic poverty, ignorance and disease can be conquered in a reasonably short period of time.

Let me say that I think the economic history of the last 150 years clearly shows that if you want to industrialize a country in a short period, let us say 20 years, and you don't have a well-developed private sector, entrepreneurial class, then central planning is important.

We are a coalition government, and that limits our options in some ways. Privatization happens to be one such area.

Protectionism is a very real danger. It is understandable that in times of a severe downturn protectionist pressures mount but the lessons of history are clear. If we give in to protectionist pressures, we will only send the world into a downward spiral.

It is a struggle for the minds of the people... No cause justifies recourse to terrorism.

Yes, I think India's economy always has been a mixed economy, and by Western standards we are much more of a market economy than a public sector-driven economy.

We all know the epicentre of terrorism in the world today is Pakistan. The world community has to come to grips with this harsh reality.

Nobody should be allowed to tinker with democracy. We will not discontinue the good works of the past government.

We got government off the backs of the people of India, particularly off the backs of India's entrepreneurs. We introduced more competition, both internal competition and external competition. We simplified and rationalized the tax system. We made risk-taking much more attractive.

I can assure you we are a responsible nuclear power.

Capitalism historically has been a very dynamic force, and behind that force is technical progress, innovation, new ideas, new products, new technologies, and new methods of managing teams.

If you have a rigidly controlled economy, cut off from the rest of the world by infinite protection, nobody has any incentive to increase productivity and to bring new ideas.

Protectionism has to be avoided. Protectionism is not only on goods but also in the area of services. Financial protectionism is also bad and should be avoided.

We remain hopeful that solutions acceptable to all sides will be found.

would take on the same responsibilities and practices and acquire the same benefits and advantages as other leading countries with advanced nuclear technology, such as the United States.

We hope to raise our co-operation in the aviation sector,

We shall never succumb to or compromise with terror, in J&K or elsewhere,

We shall defeat their (the terrorists) nefarious designs and not allow them to succeed,

There are unsubstantiated references in the report. ... There is no evidence provided, ... we are determined to get to the bottom of it.

So far we have reports of 50 dead and 15 critically injured.

Shortage of electricity is still a major inconvenience. Electricity is an essential ingredient of economic development. We need to ensure that electricity generation grows rapidly and that power shortages are eliminated.

Mr. (George W.) Bush and I have completed very cordial and productive discussions this morning.

Positioned as we are, geographically and economically, India has a pivotal role in the region,

On strategic issues we discussed the vital needs for energy security ... for India's need for atomic energy,

If we have to go back to UN Security Council resolutions, there is no point conducting this dialogue,

I have extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, our doors are open to everyone who wants to talk to me calmly,

I am aware of the shortage of tents and inadequate medical facilities. We will do our best to organize these facilities for you,

I am happy to announce that our government has cleared the purchase of 43 aircraft from Airbus.

I believe there is a perception in Indian trade and industry circles that the European market is becoming increasingly difficult to penetrate. As tariff barriers disintegrate, non-tariff barriers suddenly come up,

I am sure Indian civil society will step forward and contribute to the relief and rehabilitation effort. I appeal to every concerned citizen of our Republic to donate generously to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to help us help those in need

But we must work together to make these borders irrelevant through people-to-people contacts, through greater trade, through discussions between the two sides of Jammu and Kashmir on mutual developmental issues. So, there are many possibilities,

I foresee a very bright era for sports in our country.

From the beginning, as a thinking student of 15, 16 years ago, I was troubled by the grim poverty that I saw around me.

For two years in a row we have upwards of 7 percent growth in our national income. This year we expect to repeat that performance. I am convinced that we will sustain this rate of growth perhaps even improve upon in the next years. This has the potential of transforming our economy in many ways. It is now possible as never before to visualize India without poverty, without disease and scourge,

If we work together, we can overcome these problems,

We must find technical ways and means to resolve all outstanding issues between us in a reasonable, pragmatic manner cognizant of the ground realities,

Knowledge and education are key to ensuring that the partnership between the people of our two countries continues to grow. I am sure that you will agree that these new relationships will provide a very real platform to allow that to happen

I thought the building was collapsing, so I ran out into the middle of the street, ... There was smoke all around. Initially I thought there had been a short circuit on the electricity pole. But then I saw the hands of children and young women raining down from the sky.

It is not a question of preferring one or the other, ... We need both the pipelines.

I will be meeting academics from French institutions which have a long tradition of scholarships on India,

It is a struggle for the minds of the people.... No cause justifies recourse to terrorism.

on which I expressed appreciation for his Government's clear and long-held position.

People across the Indian subcontinent have felt the pain and anguish of those who have lost their loved ones and livelihoods in the earthquake that ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, on both sides of the Line of Control, and parts of Pakistan,

Our government is ... committed to unconditional dialogue with anyone and everyone in the state who abjures violence,

Other than that we have accepted everything. They want to give us financial aid, they want to give us medicines, they want to give us relief goods ... already we have accepted,

Regional economic cooperation in South Asia has fallen far short of our expectations and the dreams of our founding fathers, ... It remains far behind more successful examples in both Asia and other regions of the world. I sincerely hope that SAFTA comes into force by January 1, 2006, but even this will represent only a modest beginning in terms of our goals.

Our relationship is very special and one that contains exceptional potential, ... Both governments are determined to realize this potential.

My mind is open to new ideas. If this is based on good intentions, I have place in my heart for all of you.

We continue to be disturbed and dismayed at indications of the external linkages of terrorist groups with the Oct. 29 bombing,

We don't have a broad based consensus in our coalition for me to assert that I can move forward in a big way,

We have agreed to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy,

We reviewed the status of our cooperation including the agenda that was set on July 18, 2005.

We have to work jointly to ensure that the global political order, the economic order is managed in a just and equitable manner for the benefit of all countries of the world,

We have an obligation to work together to deal with this madness.

We are willing to supply to Pakistan whatever is on their priority list,

We have not given up and we still hope we can sort out this issue,

The president explained his position and it is my hope that a fair decision will be taken.

Unfortunately, the United Nations suffers from a democracy deficit, ... Until the U.N. becomes more representative of the contemporary world and more relevant to our concerns and aspirations, its ability to deliver on ... its own charter obligations will remain limited.

We are a coalition government, and that limits our options in some ways, ... Privatization happens to be one such area.

We are resolute in our commitment to fighting terror in all forms,

We have covered extensively all aspects of our relationship. I am very satisfied with the outcome of the talks.

We have covered extensively all aspects of our bilateral relationship and this statement brings out the outcome of our meeting. I am satisfied with the meeting,

While parts of India have also suffered from this unexpected natural disaster, we are prepared to extend any assistance with rescue and relief which you may deem appropriate,

We continued to be disturbed and dismayed at indications of the external linkages of terrorist groups with the October 29 bombing

This summit should evolve regional mechanisms for effective and timely cooperation in disaster relief and management,

We will have to carry all the partners in the coalition. But they are all patriots, we may have differed in the past but I have no doubt about the inherent patriotism of all the elements,

We are engaged in a peace process with Pakistan. We are trying to maintain peace between our two countries so that everyone can live happily here,

The government of Pakistan has placed some restrictions on the insurgents but success does not come through half-measures and it is important the terror infrastructure is dismantled (by Pakistan) from its roots,

We cannot be the crossroads of Asia but remain disconnected within our own region.

Together, with international unity and resolve, we can meet the challenge of this international scourge,

Through this deal we hope to raise our bilateral economic partnership and our interaction in the civil aviation sectors to new heights,

We should be targeting a 10 percent growth rate in two to three years' time, ... In my view, this is eminently feasible.

It would be wrong to promise early results,

I very much hope that Australia, as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, would endorse what I and President Bush have worked out. This is an agreement, which helps the cause of nuclear non-proliferation. India has an impeccable record of not entering into any unauthorized arms proliferation.

These blasts have been timed to create disaffection during the festival season when people of all communities are celebrating our national festivals,

Our emphasis and sincere desire is that this matter should be resolved without taking recourse to coercive methods and any sort of confrontation, as they only exacerbate tensions in the region and beyond.

The most important outcome has been the adoption of a joint action plan ... which provides the framework, a road map for identifying pathways for future cooperation.

Any redrawing of the international borders is not something that is going to be acceptable to us.

Bangladesh is a country with which we have intimate ties ... and a strong and prosperous Bangladesh is in India's interest.

they are generally crowded with women and children. The target was maximum damage.

There seems to be some success in our search for peace and harmony now,

I took out at least 20 bodies, most of them were children,

Education, inter-faith dialogue and the culture of tolerance should be promoted,

The value of this contract will be in the region of $2.2 billion,

The sentiment of friendship is growing on both sides. It is a good beginning that will have a good end result,

These terrorists wish to spread a sense of fear and suspicion among our peace-loving people,

Once this is completed, we will be able to address a major constraint affecting our economy,

India cannot afford to turn a blind eye to security implications of such proliferation activities.

India and China can together reshape the world order.

India's needs of energy are increasing at an explosive rate,

India's effort has been to persuade the king that the restoration of democracy is absolutely essential to deal with the crisis that has arisen.

I have no hesitation in saying that India is not part of any international effort for regime change in any part of our region.

I have no detailed information about the militants who are there or who have been affected,