January 15, 2002
‘3’
PONGAL, SANKRANTI CELEBRATED AT PM’S RESIDENCEPrime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said that inspite of difficult times, the country is faring well in different sectors. Bumper grain production, sufficient foreign exchange reserves and feeling of brotherhood in the country indicates towards a better future. Our alert and brave soldiers are guarding our borders. He was addressing a gathering of people from South India at his residence on the occasion of Pongal and Makara Sankranti, today. Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Shri Ananth Kumar and Union Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Shri Vijay Goel were also present on the occasion.
Describing Pongal as one of the National festivals, the Prime Minister said Sankranti symbolises change for better. We should not talk only about the revolution but about good revolution. A Samyak(good) Kranti is Sankranti, the Prime Minister said.
India is emerging as a great power, we have everything to be hopeful about India’s future as a great Nation and we should move towards this goal while striving for world peace, Shri Vajpayee added.