This Article is From May 11, 2009

Politics is the art of the possible: PM

Politics is the art of the possible: PM
Ludhiana:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in an address to mediapersons in Ludhiana, has said that the UPA will form the government at the Centre, as "politics is an art of the possible".

With a hung Parliament widely expected, Singh said that the Left should support the Congress to form the next government, however, that all this would be decided after the results were out on May 16.

Highlighting the economic policies of the government, the Prime Minister pointed that India's growth rate has been 8.6 per cent in the last five years while it was 5.8 per cent during NDA's rule.

"Despite the economic slowdown, India's growth rate will remain around six per cent," he said.

Singh also said that the farmers were neglected during the NDA rule at the Centre.

In an apparent attack on the opponents, the Prime Minister said that Third Front has collapsed even before it could take off, adding that the divisions in the NDA will become clear after the elections. He pointed that the NDA does not have the support of the Biju Janata Dal and the Telugu Desham Party.

The Prime Minister also slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was recently appreciated for his work by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

"Nitish's allegations that we are not helping Bihar are false. The fault is of the Bihar government," said Singh.

"Nitish professes to be secular but after seeing him share a stage with Modi, I have my doubts," he said, adding that he believed religion should not be brought into politics.

In a reference to the possible tie-ups after the declaration of the Lok Sabha results, the Prime Minister said, "Those who are angry with us can be won over." He also said that regional parties are a reality.

Talking about the race for the post of the prime minister, Singh said that Congress had declared its prime ministerial candidate and that there would be no waivering on the issue.

The Prime Minister also talked about issues such as nuclear deal and terrorism.

Referring to the nuclear deal, Singh said that it was not an issue as it was signed, sealed and operational. He said he refused to target any particular community in the name of terrorism.

"Terrorism has to be dealt with firmly, but cannot target any specific community," he said.

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