Opposition making tall claims that are impossible to fulfill: PM at Congress meet

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the All India Congress Committee meet being held at Talkatora stadium in New Delhi today.

Here are the highlights:

• This is an important session because it will help the party prepare for 2014 polls
• No reason to lose hope after poor showing in the recent elections in 5 states
• I have no doubt that if we prepare well and inform people about the government's achievements, we will win
  
• We must tell the people that Congress is the only party that can provide an inclusive, secular India
  
• Opposition making tall claims which are impossible to fulfill
• Economic growth will remain at 5 per cent this year
  
• We are trying hard to improve our economic growth
• We aren't the only country which witnessed a slowdown, other developing countries faced problems too
• In the last year, Cabinet passed 5 lakh crore project
• We have always catered to women, poor
• Women's security has been our prime focus. Several sexual harassment policies and laws have been implemented
• No matter where we pitch the poverty line but poverty rates are definitely decreasing
• Officers are afraid of taking decisions because they fear being questioned by the CAG
• We're trying to remove obstacles in the decision-making process
• Due to rapid economic growth, resources with the state governments have also increased.
• Many states that were previously backward are now growing at a fast pace
• Education: Primary, Secondary and Higher services have been developed
• Almost all children now attend schools and get a midday meal
• Many new institutions have been opened
• Skill development has also been our focus. We plan to train 5 crore youths. It is true that inflation is on the rise
  
• But people who produce vegetables etc. have benefitted from the price rise
• Salaries have also increased dramatically
• In the last 10 years, our youth have been empowered by social media
• People want better services from government offices
• On Corruption:  Never before has there been as much transparency as there is now
• Lokpal is a good step to curb corruption
• We have made mistakes but we have always tried to learn and work on them
• We must focus on areas that need more attention
• These problems won't be solved by mere sloganeering. We need a vision that will be inclusive and only Congress has this vision
• I have no doubt that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi we will achieve success in the upcoming 2014 Lok Sabha polls