Home minister

The home minister also used the occasion to highlight the achievements of the Modi government, noting that the economy had posted 8.2% growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year — the fastest pace in two years — despite an adverse global market scenario, a falling rupee and rising fuel prices.

Singh said the rupee’s depreciation against the dollar had been a fallout of the sharp drop in the value of the Turkish lira. “But we will turn this situation also to our advantage and find a way out very soon by encouraging exports,” said Singh and added: “...unlike during the Congress regime, under a similar situation, investors are not wary of investing in the country.”

“Our government is moving forward by taking India’s transformation and resolve from a developing to a developed country,” he said.

ON MOB LYNCHINGS

“No country can guarantee zero violence. But strong measures are being taken to prevent such incidents. A committee formed by me under the Union home secretary has submitted its report on the basis of which directives have been issued to all states.”

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

“We have managed to curtail terrorist violence and check crossborder infiltration but attempts to divide and destabilise are continuing from Pakistan,” he said.

ON TIES WITH PAKISTAN UNDER IMRAN KHAN

“India has always taken the initiative in fostering good relations with its neighbours. He [Imran] has played good cricket. But politics is different. I wish Allah gives him strength in his role.”

NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS

“The government has the right to know how many people have come from across the border and are now living [in India] by posing as Indian citizens”.

He said it was proof of the fairness of the process that despite the fact that the names of four million people in Assam had not been included in the NRC’s final draft, no incident of violence had been reported from Assam.

SIMULTANEOUS POLLS

“It is possible to have simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls; nothing can be better.”