Arun Jaitley hits back at Manmohan Singh

03:50 PM: Congress's dirty tricks department carrying out a campaign against Modi



03:46 PM: Voters and not time give verdict in a democracy

03:45 PM: PM's press conference was to announce his own farewell



I would like to visit Pakistan: PM



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he does want to go to Pakistan before stepping down but the conditions must be "appropriate".Asked why he had not gone to Pakistan since taking office in 2004, the prime minister said he "would very much like to go to Pakistan.



Have been speaking up: PM



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday denied that he had not been speaking up on issues concerning the party and government."Whenever there was a need, I have been speaking at the party forum. I will continue to do so in the future," the prime minister said while answering a query at a press conference in New Delhi.



Modi will be a disaster for India: PM



BJP leader Narendra Modi will prove to be "disastrous" for India if he were to become the prime minister, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday."Without discussing the merits of Narendra Modi, I sincerely believe that it will be disastrous for the country to have Modi as the PM," Manmohan Singh told the media here.He added that he was fully confident that the next prime minister, after the Lok Sabha election, will also be from the Congress-led UPA coalition.

Row over diplomat won't hit Indo-US ties: PM



The row between the US and India over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York is a "temporary aberration" in bilateral relations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday.The prime minister told the media here that the UPA government attached "the highest priority to strengthen the strategic partnership between our two countries. "There have been recently some hiccups but I sincerely believe that these are temporary aberrations, and diplomacy should be given a chance to resolve the issues that have arisen," he said.





Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses media

11:28 AM: I have ruled myself out as a PM candidate if UPA comes back to power. Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials to be the PM candidate: PM



11:26 AM: I will hand over charge to a new Prime Minister after the elctions in a few month: PM



11: 25 AM: We will announce the Congress PM candidate at an appropriate time: PM



11:23 AM: Manmohan Singh says he won't be PM for third term

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing media Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing media

11:22 AM: All emerging economies including India faced slowdown in the past couple of years

11:21 AM: We are set for better times, says PM highlighting growth rate in past 9 years is the highest.

11:20 AM: Not successful in controlling inflation, need to increase supplies to keep food prices under control

11:19 AM: Concerned over not generating employment in manufacturing sector; need efforts to support medium and small enterprises

11:18 AM: Worry about inflation is legitimate but income for most people have increased faster than inflation: PM



11:17 AM: Number of people below poverty line has come down: PM

11: 16 AM: Global growth cycle turning for the better: Prime Minister.



11:15 AM: We need to improve supply chain bottlenecks



11:14 AM: Food Security Act will sheild common man from inflation



11:13 AM: We haven't been able to control inflation



11:12 AM: We need to generate employment in manufacturing sector



11:11 AM :High Agricultural growth under UPA 2



11:10 AM: We have fulfilled our promises ragarding development of rural areas



11:09 AM: In last 9 years we have achieved a lot: PM

11:07 AM: People demonstrated faith in institutions of democracy in 2013









Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address press conference



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet the media after a long gap on Friday morning when he "wants to dispel the myth that nothing has happened in this country" and say his government has "delivered" on its prommises, official sources said Thursday.



Manmohan Singh, in his much-anticipated media interaction, will list the achievements of 10 years of UPA's rule and will, contrary to media expectations, focus less on politics, these sources said.



There has been speculation in sections of the media that the prime minister will announce he is stepping down and make way for Rahul Gandhi. That was, however, denied by the Prime Minister's Office.

PM Manmohan Singh PM Manmohan Singh

According to the sources, the prime minister will highlight the progress of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government since 2004 in the key areas of economic growth, job creation, in controlling inflation and encouraging and supporting small businesses, as well in foreign policy.According to the sources, the prime minister "wants to dispel the myth that nothing has happened in this country."He will explain the rise of inflation and how the government has been able to deal with it," the source said, adding that the prime minister wants to convey the message that the government has "delivered" what it had "promised."He will also talk about the steps taken by the government on providing a better governance and transparency."He will also highlight the various anti-corruption measures taken by his government," the source said.Manmohan Singh's second tenure has been blighted by allegations of corruptions and some of its ministers have resigned on corruption charges.The press conference, at the recently inaugurated National Media Centre, will be attended by 250 media persons, including senior editors, officials said.The prime minister's press conference is coming just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and the drubbing the party faced in the recent assembly polls.The press conference will only be the second during his second term as the prime minister which began in May 2009. He had held a similar one two years ago, though he had met five editors and a group of TV editors once each.This will also be the third press conference in his entire 10 years span. He has however held interactions on board with journalists during his foreign visits.Apart from the prime minister, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari will be present at the conference that will begin at 11 a.m.