New Delhi, Mar 19: Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has asserted that the process of economic reforms would be given a "better face" as they needed "further reforms"."The reforms process needs further reforms. It will be given a people's thrust,", Vajpayee told reporters at the prime minister's South Block office here.
Asked to clarify what he meant by people's thrust, the prime minister said "it will have a better face."
Vajpayee said he would expand his 43-member ministry after securing a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha. Asked whether his government would go for an interim budget or vote on account, Vajpayee said it would be "vote on account." only.
Asked what kind of relations he envisaged between India and Pakistan under his government, Vajpayee said "we will have friendly relations."
To a question how he felt having become prime minister for the second time, he said "I have a pledge to redeem. I have a promise to fulfil. I am grateful to the people of India who have given me thisopportunity to serve them."
Asked what was his message when he spoke of national consensus, the prime minister said: "there is unity in diversity and diversity in unity."
On the national agenda for governance announced by BJP and its allies on Wednesday, Vajpayee said there were no contradictions and it should be welcomed.
The new Union cabinet which had its first meeting this afternoon broadly discussed the business to be transacted in Parliament. Later, a separate meeting of the cabinet was also held.
An official spokesman said that the meeting was essentially a stock-taking exercise. Vajpayee emphasised that the BJP and its allies which had won the mandate of the people had worked out a collective national agenda which he said should be promptly implemented. He said that his government was for total integrity in decision-making. The prime minister was informed by the cabinet secretary that there were decisions on several matters which could not be taken by the previous government because ofelections. Vajpayee said that these would be cleared in the next few days.
The Speaker of the 12th Lok Sabha will be elected on March 24 after the swearing in of members which will commence on March 23 is completed. The President will address the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on March 25.
The Vajpayee government will take a vote on account, which is likely to be for four months, on March 26. The prime minister will move the motion of confidence on March 27 the debate on which is expected to spill on to the next day.
Vajpayee's first act as prime minister on Thursday was to attend an India-Pakistan hockey match in the afternoon at 3 pm. "It was a special gesture reinforcing a message of goodwill and friendship and our desire for good neighbourly relations with Pakistan," a spokesman of the ministry of external affairs said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
