There will be no going back on any of the reform measures initiated in the last two weeks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reiterated.
Ignoring all political opposition, including from allies, the Government has taken several reform measures.
These include cutting subsidy on diesel and domestic cooking gas (LPG) and opening up the retail sector to foreign direct investment.
The Prime Minister also addressed the nation to explain the rationale behind the initiatives.
On Saturday, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime Minister said: “We will do what is good for the country... reforms are not one-off process.”
The Prime Minister was responding to questions on demands for rollback of decisions on FDI in retail, diesel price hike and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders.
On reservations expressed by allies that the recent decisions could hurt their electoral prospects, Manmohan Singh said that the issue could be discussed.
“We are far away from elections.” When his attention was drawn to allegations by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi that FDI in retail was aimed at pleasing the US, he shot back: “What has the US got to do with this? We are not a country to be dictated by others.”
Asked about the attacks on him by Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee, who recently walked out of the UPA, he said: “I am not bitter about anything.”