This Article is From Mar 12, 2012

Highlights: President's address to Parliament

Highlights: President's address to Parliament
New Delhi: With President Pratibha Patil's address, the Budget Session of Parliament began today. Before her speech, members of the DMK, a senior partner in the UPA, shouted protests over Sri Lanka's aggressive attitude towards Indian fishermen. The President's reference, during her speech, to quotas, also provoked loud protests from members of the Opposition.

Here are the highlights of her speech in the Lok Sabha:

  • My government has completed half its term
  • We have dealt with economic troubles
  • There is economic instability worldwide
  • The government is committed to corruption-free governance and it has taken some initiatives to ensure this like the Lokpal Bill
  • Indian economic growth better than rest of the world
  • Will be back to path of 9 per cent growth
  • Taking strong steps to tackle black money menace
  • Several key bills are on track
  • Process of forming an effective anti-graft bill underway
  • Education is priority, focus on specially-abled persons
  • Govt to set up separate department of disability affairs
  • We are committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue
  • We look forward to building upon progress made so far; mindful of the need for Pakistan to take credible action against terrorist groups on its soil
  • Parliament has important items on agenda, hope all of you will work together in a spirit of constructive cooperation to discharge the business
  • Inflation has been better controlled in first half of 2012

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