India to maintain 8.9 % growth rate over next few years: Singh

Painting a rosy picture of Indian economy, which has posted a phenomenal 8.9 per cent growth in third quarter of 2003-04, Finance Minister J...

Painting a rosy picture of Indian economy, which has posted a phenomenal 8.9 per cent growth in third quarter of 2003-04, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh on Friday said that the growth tempo would maintain momentum over the next few years.

Riding on the crest of ‘feel-good’ factor, Singh, addressing a public meeting in suburban Ghatkopar, claimed that the growth was not just based on agriculture but it was propelled by impressive performance in industry, services and exports.

Asked about Deputy Prime Minister Advani’s comment hat feel-good factor is yet to reach farmers, he said: “I do not want to answer this. I am talking about overall feel good factor of India.”

Singh said the fiscal deficit has shrunk to 4.1 per cent and the disinvestment revenue targets would be met as per the estimates. Highlighting the achievements on the exports front, Singh said India’s exports to China have been much more compared to their exports to us. India’s edge in it sector has become strong and was expected to show much better performance due to forward looking policies of nda government, he said. (PTI)