26/11 type attacks will be averted at all costs: PM

Flanked by Shivraj Patil and Vilasrao Deshmukh,who lost their jobs after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks,Singh said,”We want to avoid recurrence of 26/11 type attack at any cost… we also want that no religion or community is subjected to unnecessary harassment on the issue”.

Maintaining that the UPA Government was firm in its resolve to fight terror,the Prime Minister said intelligence agencies were being strengthen and security agencies were being modernised and provided adequate training.

Dismissing BJP’s claim of providing a strong Government at the Centre as hollow,Singh said “the country cannot be run merely by making tall claims”.

“Some parties are claiming that they would provide a strong Government but these claims are hollow,” the Prime Minister said,addressing an election rally here,his first in Maharashtra.

“During the NDA regime,their Foreign Minister (Jaswant Singh) himself escorted dreaded terrorists to Kandahar,” the Prime Minister said,referring to the release of militants in exchange for the hostages of the hijacked IC 184.

Dwelling on the initiatives taken by the UPA Government for welfare of minorities and weaker sections,the Prime Minister said “a separate Minority Ministry was set up and a 15-point programme for social and economic development for minorities was undertaken”.

“We have identified districts in the country where the number of minorities are significant and have undertaken measures for social and economic development of minorities. Three districts in Maharashtra also figure in the list,” he said.

Vacant posts under the Schedule Castes recruitment quota were being filled up,the Prime Minister said. “The last five years of Congress-led UPA Government have been spent in fulfilling our slogan,Congress ka hath Aam admi ke saath,” he said.

“You have seen the record of Congress in running the Government. I have come to you to seek your votes on the basis of our Government’s performance during the last five years and also to appeal to you to strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi,” he said.

The PM lauded NCP Chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar,crediting him with doubling the agriculture sector growth rate,as compared to the growth rate during NDA tenure. “I appreciate Pawar’s leadership for this success,” he said.

Latur Lok Sabha constituency,which has been declared reserved post-delimitation,has sent a Congress candidate to Parliament in 12 of the 14 elections held so far. The constituency also has the distinction of having the Prime Minister address a poll rally in all the past elections from here.

During his three-hour stay in Latur,the Prime Minister also visited the residences of Patil and Deshmukh.