Assurance of internal security will be top priority of new UPA govt: PM

New Delhi, May 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that the assurance of internal security and maintaining the communal harmony would be the top priority of the new United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government.

"The new UPA Government has to be vigilant and effective in dealing with the threat of terrorism and extremism, as it is looming large in India's neighbourhood. The assurance of internal security and maintaining the communal harmony and peace will be the top most priority of the new UPA Government," Manmohan Singh said while addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) in the Central hall of the Parliament.

Singh, who was renominated to lead the government for the second consecutive term, said that the focus will be to ensure that people of all regions, all religions, languages and castes benefit from this process.

"The Centre will work in tandem with the State Governments for the effective and better implementation of various welfare schemes including national rural employment guarantee act, NREGA, national rural health mission, NRHM and other welfare programmes," he added.

Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the new government will continue innovatively on the path it has adopted five years ago under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Gandhi further said that she is looking forward to work together with the newly elected parliamentarians to realise these goals.

Earlier, the Congress re-elected Dr. Manmohan Singh as leader of its parliamentary party and Sonia Gandhi as the Chairperson.

The formalities will further the process of government formation, a day after Dr. Singh resigned as Prime Minister on Monday. (ANI)