New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed concern over the use of money and muscle power in elections and said these needed to be curbed.
Speaking in Parliament, he said: "The growing use of money power in elections, muscle power, these are developments which need to be tackled if we have to maintain the health of our democratic polity."
He also urged everyone not to encourage groups and individuals who seek to divide the country in the name of religion and caste.
The Prime Minister was speaking on the last day of the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha.
No discrimination against states, promises PM
The Prime Minister promised that his Congress-led Government would not discriminate against any state, including those ruled by rival parties.
He told Parliament that his Government would "operate strictly on the basis of objectivity" while dealing with states and Panchayati Raj institutions.
He urged all chief ministers to work together in the National Integration Council to earnestly implement the various development programmes.
Pakistan should act against terrorists
Manmohan Singh urged Pakistani leaders to show courage by taking action against terrorists who have committed crimes against India.
He said Pakistan needed to take "strong and sustained action" to prevent the use of its territory against Indian interests and to "bring to justice those who have committed such crimes in the past".
Such terrorists include those who masterminded the attack on Mumbai in November last year, he said.
"Such action will be welcomed by the people of both countries," he said, addressing both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. "If the leaders of Pakistan have the courage, determination and statesmanship to take this road to peace, we will meet them more than half way."
PM presses Sri Lanka to meet Tamil aspirations
He also urged the Sri Lankan government to "show imagination and courage" to meet Tamil aspirations following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, saying that India had "a deep and abiding interest in the well being of the Tamil people in that country".
He added that the "Tamil problem is larger than the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)".
"I sincerely hope that the Sri Lankan government will show imagination and courage in meeting the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the Tamil people to lead their lives as equal citizens and with dignity and respect."
He pointed out that India had taken interest in helping Sri Lanka to rehabilitate the hundreds of thousands displaced by fighting that led to the decimation of the LTTE in May.
He said India had provided Rs.500 crore for this purpose and it would be ready to provide more money so that the displaced return to their original homes and occupation.
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