In a broad-based address to the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stuck to his core agenda- the revival of the economy.
Addressing concerns about the drought and the outbreak of swine flu, Dr Manmohan Singh's message was clear: don't panic.
In many ways this is an Independence Day riddled with contradictions. The clouds were ominous, the rain intermittent and India turned 63.
India's shining economic future is slowing this year - hit by a bad monsoon and a swine flu pandemic.
Despite the world seeing a strong India, today the mood at Red Fort was sombre.
Manmohan Singh arrived for his 6th Independece-Day speech and his security was heavy like the short-term task ahead for him.
The farm sector is in distress, economic revival sluggish but India withstood global meltdown and can grow at 6 per cent.
With his government's majority in no doubt, India's forex reserve at over $270 billion, food stocks comfortable at over 20 million tones and stock market maintaining vigour - Manmohan promised long term hope and return to 9 per cent growth path and a war against short-term worries.
What Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said:
- We will help our farmers in every way to help fight drought.
- No citizen of our country should sleep hungry.
- Recession world over has reduced our growth rate to 6.7%. Our biggest challenge is to restore economic growth to 9%
In the end it was an attempt to offer hope in the future but it was impossible to hide the bad news of today.
