By IANS,
Ludhiana : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said it was “creditable” that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had been able to sustain the country’s growth despite the global economic slowdown.
“Despite recession, our growth rate is the second highest in the world. The UPA government should get credit for achieving a growth rate of 6.5 percent in face of adverse international conditions,” he told the media here.
He said that despite the world being in deep economic difficulty, the UPA government was able to ensure the country’s growth.
“Compare the growth achieved by us with that of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) term. It is one and a half times,” he pointed out.
Manmohan Singh said that while the country’s growth rate in five years of the UPA regime remained 8.6 percent, during the NDA regime it was only 5.8 percent.
“Such growth rate has been recorded for the first time in India’s history,” he said.
He said that the schemes and projects initiated by the UPA government had benefited farmers, poor and other weaker sections of society in the last five years. He said that agriculture production had doubled during the UPA’s term.
Appealing for votes, he said if the UPA comes back to power, it would initiate more steps to help the country’s industry bounce back from the present phase of economic slowdown.