Govt committed to J and K, North-East development: PM

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured Jammu and Kashmir and the North-Eastern region that his government's ''solemn commitment'' was to ensure their greater prosperity.

''We want to bring greater prosperity to the less developed regions of our country, especially the North-Eastern region and Jammu and Kashmir. This is our solemn commitment,'' Dr Singh said in his Independence Day address to the nation.

At the same time, the state governments must be more active in creating an environment conducive to investment, he said.

The Centre was investing in better infrastructure and connectivity in the North-East. In Jammu and Kashmir, the long-term development was bringing new investment to all the three regions of the state.

Grassroots democracy had taken deep roots in the state and the roundtable discussions had opened new avenues for reconciliation and development.

UNI