Washington: Ahead of his talks with US
President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today
said India needs a growth rate of eight to nine per cent to
industrialise and get rid of chronic poverty and pitched for
transfer of dual use technology to achieve that goal.
"We are a nuclear weapons state, but we are a
responsible nuclear power. We have an impeccable record of not
having contributed to unauthorised proliferation of these
weapons of mass destruction," he said in an interview to CNN,
aired minutes before he landed at the Andrews Air Force Base
in the US on the first state visit of Obama Administration.
"I think, India does require greater consideration of the
international community," he said when asked about the Indo-US
civilian nuclear deal and its implementation.
India needs to industrialise and operate on the frontiers
of modern science and technology, Singh said.
"And therefore, restrictions on dual use technology
affect our growth," the Prime Minister said adding that India
needs an annual growth rate of eight to nine per cent to get
rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease which afflict
millions and millions of Indians.
In that context, industrialisation and transfer of dual
use technology can play a greater role, he added.
To a question, the Prime Minister said the relationship
between India and the US will not be affected because of
the change in the US Administration.
"I have no apprehension that our relations with the
United States would in any way suffer because of the change of
the Administration," he said.
Acknowledging the contribution of the Indian-American
community, the Prime Minister said the relations at the
people-to-people level are of great significance.
The large community of people of Indian origin in the
United States, the way they flourish, the way they have
contributed to the growth of the American economy, has changed
the image of India, he said.
"These days there are hardly any middle-class family in
India that does not have a son, a son-in-law, a brother or a
sister in the United States," Singh said.
"And in that sense there is a great incentive for the
two countries to look to further development of our
relationship," he said.
Bureau Report
"I think, India does require greater consideration of the
international community," he said when asked about the Indo-US
civilian nuclear deal and its implementation.
India needs to industrialise and operate on the frontiers
of modern science and technology, Singh said.
"And therefore, restrictions on dual use technology
affect our growth," the Prime Minister said adding that India
needs an annual growth rate of eight to nine per cent to get
rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease which afflict
millions and millions of Indians.
In that context, industrialisation and transfer of dual
use technology can play a greater role, he added.
To a question, the Prime Minister said the relationship
between India and the US will not be affected because of
the change in the US Administration.
"I have no apprehension that our relations with the
United States would in any way suffer because of the change of
the Administration," he said.
Acknowledging the contribution of the Indian-American
community, the Prime Minister said the relations at the
people-to-people level are of great significance.
The large community of people of Indian origin in the
United States, the way they flourish, the way they have
contributed to the growth of the American economy, has changed
the image of India, he said.
"These days there are hardly any middle-class family in
India that does not have a son, a son-in-law, a brother or a
sister in the United States," Singh said.
"And in that sense there is a great incentive for the
two countries to look to further development of our
relationship," he said.
Bureau Report
