PM pledges assistance to farmers to deal with drought

Sending out a positive message on Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a new era of cooperation and harmony and pledged all possible government assistance to farmers to deal with drought and stepped up efforts to control spiralling prices.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the sixth consecutive year, Singh said the government would work for political stability and strengthening economy with an aim of marching towards "a golden future".

Asserting that the people had rejected sectarian politics and have "chosen a political arrangement which is secular", he called for "a new era of cooperation and harmony" and promised to take everyone along to create "an environment of consensus and cooperation".

"You have entrusted a big responsibility on us and we humbly accept that and will fulfill it", he said.

Talking about problems like drought, economic crisis and swine flu facing the country, he sought to allay concerns.

There was no need to panic in the face of swine flu and daily life should not be disrupted because of it, said 76-year-old Singh.