India celebrates the 65^th Independence Day

(August 15, 2011) Greeting India on its 65th Independence Day Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his concerns on corruption and said that his government was taking action on many fronts to fight graft. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort for the eighth consecutive Independence Day Manmohan Singh said the government had no "magic wand" and called for a multi-pronged crackdown on corrupt practices that hamper India's economic growth. In his message he concentrated on domestic concerns like terrorism, health, education and infrastructure. The Prime Minister saluted the farmers for achieving a high output this year; he also called for another Green Revolution to address the twin issues of checking prices and food security. He added that top priority would be given to infrastructure in the next plan. He pressed for a slum free India and said the government was considering universalisation of secondary education. In her annual address to the nation, Indian president, Pratibha Patil said their independence was won on the principles of truth and non-violence. “It is this, as well as the transformational impact it had in other parts of the world, that makes our freedom struggle exceptional,” said Patil. “We can be proud that we all belong to a country that has proved its greatness through values, which have found such wide resonance.” She added that corruption is a cancer affecting the nation's political, economic, cultural and social life and it is necessary to eliminate it.