We will lure back IT talent, says new PM

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Thursday, 20 May 2004, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister-elect Manmohan Singh said on Thursday his new government, to take office in the next few days, was committed to economic reforms, but with "a human face". Addressing a press conference at his residence on Thursday morning Manmohan Singh further said that generating more jobs and tackling unemployment will be top priority. Pledging that the new government would be look at faster growth he said that he will strive to create an environment friendly to investors and enterprise. Singh also told reporters that his coalition government would focus on building new airports and increase power generation. Calling on the Indian IT workers abroad, he said that his government will do everything to attract IT talent in the country. He also asked for support from NRIs. "The time has come for India to emerge as an economic power," he said. Singh told reporters his Congress-led coalition would put a high priority on development and tackling poverty. Addressing a press conference at his residence on Thursday morning, he pledged his new government would create an environment friendly to investors and enterprise. On privatisation, he said ONGC and Gail will not be privatised. "We are not pursuing privatisation as part of our ideological commitment. India needs a strong private sector as also a public sector," he told reporters here. "PSUs like Gail and ONGC will remain in the public sector. There is no intention to privatise them. Similarly there are nationalised banks which will remain in public sector. These will not be privatised," he said. He said, "We will not do anything which will throw large pools of workers jobless". Singh also told reporters that his coalition government would focus on building new airports and increase power generation. "The time has come for India to emerge as an economic power," he said. The Prime Minister-designate said Indian polity cannot be divided on the basis of race and religion. He said India was an ancient civilisation and the essence of Hinduism is tolerance. "We are the most tolerant civilisation and we cannot divide people on the basis of religion and race," he said.