New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) : Outlining its agenda for five years, the government on Monday announced a slew of measures to push growth and create jobs, which will include encouraging investment and creating a predictable, transparent and fair environment.
Addressing the first joint sitting of Parliament after the recent Lok Sabha elections, President Pranab Mukherjee said the Narendra Modi government would initiate a series of social, healthcare and infrastructure programmes while asserting that there will be 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism and extremism, besides violence against women.
He said the government would revive 'Brand India', riding on its strengths of five 'T's -- tradition, talent, tourism, trade and technology -- and will pursue foreign policy on the basis of "enlightened nationalism" and mutually beneficial relationships.
"The people of India have given a clear mandate. They want to see a vibrant, dynamic and prosperous India. They want to see a resurgent India regaining the admiration and respect of the international community," Mukherjee said in his 55-minute address.
"Brimming with hope and expectation, they want quick results. With three 'D's of democracy, demography and demand on our side, ... we must rise to the occasion to fulfil these great expectations. In 60 months from now, we should be able to say with confidence and pride that we have done it," he said.
Noting that the country is passing through an "extremely difficult phase" on the economic front, the President said that GDP growth has been less than five per cent, tax collection has declined and inflation continues to be at an "unacceptable" level.
"Thus, putting the Indian economy back on track is paramount for my government. We will work together to usher our economy into high growth path, rein in inflation, re-ignite the investment cycle, accelerate job creation and restore the confidence of the domestic as well as international community in our economy," he said.
In this context, he said the government would create a policy environment which is "predictable, transparent and fair".
Newly-elected Lok Sabha members and those belonging to the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Modi, his cabinet colleagues, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders heard the 50-minute speech with rapt attention interspersed by occasional thumping of desks.
The President said putting the economy back on track is paramount.
The government will put it back into a high growth path, rein in inflation, reignite the investment, accelerate job creation and restore the confidence of the domestic and international community.
"My government will create a policy environment which is predictable, transparent and fair. It will embark on rationalisation and simplification of the tax regime to make it non-adversarial and conductive to investment, enterprise and growth.
"My government will make every effort to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) while addressing the concerns of states. Reforms will be undertaken to enhance the ease of doing business. My government will follow a policy of encouraging investments, including through FDI, which will be allowed in sectors that help create jobs and assets," Mukherjee said.
On the foreign policy, the President said while the government was committed to work towards building a peaceful, stable and economically inter-linked neighbourhood, "we will never shy away from raising issues of concern to us at a bilateral level.
"We emphasise that the future of shared prosperity can only be built on the foundation of stability in the region, which requires sensitivity to security concerns and an end to export of terrorism to neighbours."
Extending warm greetings to the newly-elected MPs, the President told them that they should never forget that they are in Parliament because of them. "Serving them should be our first priority." Noting that the general elections were smooth and largely peaceful, he congratulated the Election Commission and the official machinery for successful conduct of the exercise.
"The unprecedented interest shown by the people of India in the elections is a sign of progressive deepening of our vibrant democracy." The President said the country needed a strong and stable government that could provide effective leadership.
"In my Republic Day speech earlier this year, I had hoped for 20-14 to be a year of healing after the fractured and contentious politics of the previous years. "Standing here today, I applaud the wisdom of my fellow citizens for having voted for stability, honesty and development in a resurgent India in which corruption will have no place."
Mukherjee said his government is committed to nurturing the right environment for actualising this mandate of the people. "For this, it pledges itself to the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', which can be fulfilled only through your active participation.
"We will work together to re-establish the credibility of the institutions of democracy. My government will function on the mantra of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'. In all our actions, we will be guided by the core values of our great civilisation. The address said the government is dedicated to the poor as poverty as no religion, hunger has no creed and despair has no geography.
"The greatest challenge before us is to end the curse of poverty in India. My government will not be satisfied with mere "poverty alleviation" and commits itself to the goal of "poverty elimination".