PM confident of 8-9 per cent growth

New Delhi, June 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed confidence that the country can achieve eight to nine per cent growth rate in the coming two to three years and the government will be working to achieve it.

"I cannot promise that international developments (economic slowdown) will not affect India, but we can still achieve eight-nine per cent growth rate. This year we will maintain at least seven per cent growth rate. In the short-run, we cannot do better but this is not good enough," said Manmohan Singh, replying to a marathon debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

PM emphasized that though the fiscal deficit is high, there is a need to rapidly expand economy, create jobs and resources for spending on flagship programmes on education, health, rural development and scope for expansion in infrastructure development.

He was also hopeful that this would be reflected in the forthcoming budget for this year.

"In the present situation, there is considerable scope to increase public expenditure particularly on infrastructure projects and that would not lead to inflation", Singh said.

Responding to demands by several members, the PM assured both the houses that the backward areas will obtain priority attention.

PM also asserted that the Centre, states and Panchayatiraj institutions must work in tandem to have all round growth. (ANI)