I-day celebrated in Parliament

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Parliament today celebrated the 60th anniversay of India's Independence with musical reneditions and President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressing the need to sustain high growth and wipe out the scourge of poverty, backwardness and corruption.

The leaders pledged to take the country to greater heights and make growth socially inclusive. They spoke of the need to improve the delivery systems of the government at all levels and said India inspired the world, plagued by wars and terrorism, to adopt values of non-violence and tolerance nourished by it.

The function in this regard was organised in the Central Hall of Parliament, which was packed with Members of Parliament, Council of Ministers, diplomats and other dignitaries. To mark the occasion, Parliament House was lit up.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chaterjee and Vice- President Mohd Hamid Ansari.

The President noted that the country was witnessing "historically unprecedented rates of economic growth" and it should be the endeavour of all to sustain this as also to ensure that it was socially inclusive.

"We must ensure that every region of the country participates in and benefits from the process of economic growth that is destined to transform India," Ms Patil said.

She spoke of the need to adopt modern technology in agriculture and improve farm practices and asked the industry to scale new heights in the face of stiff global competition. The President also underscored the need to combat the "meance of corruption." Ms Patil said the nation would remain indebted to the "selfless sacrifices" of many and paid homage to leaders of the freedom movement. In this regard, she made a reference to the phenomenal contribution of leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subramaniam Bharathi, C Rajagopalachari, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Sarojini Naidu and Aruna Asaf Ali.

Dr Singh said the world today wanted India to do well and the external situation was "benign and favourable." He said India needed to be in the forefront of the evolution of knowledge, and its people ought to inculcate a scientific temper and foster a more enlightended and modern outlook.

"The cancer of corruption must be extinguished if democracy and development have to have a real meaning to our people," Dr Singh said.

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