NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao has said there was no going back on economic reforms and that he was confident of Parliament passing the budget despite his govt being in a minority
There is no question of reversing (reforms) and I don’t think there will be any such pressure because everyone knows that these reforms came at a time when they should have come just in time and any delay would have brought us disaster he told eyewitness Video magazine.
Rao said there was a general consensus apart from voices being raised here and there that the reforms were necessary timely and brook no delay.
While admitting that there will be some price increase Rao said it will be nothing like what would have happened if we had not taken the steps which we have taken Rao said he would like to be known as a hard-headed prime minister capable of taking decisions however hard they are when they are wanted
Asked what the govt would do if the economic measures are not accepted by the people putting his minority govt at stake he said all I can tell you is that the picture you are painting does not frighten me because that is not what is going to happen that way.
The prime minister agreed with the interviewer that the description of a tightrope walker determined to stay on the straight and narrow path fitted him but added I really don’t know how tight the rope is but I think i am a walker and I will go to the other end.
Narasimha Rao said he was confident of carrying the party along despite speculation that it was not an united house on the reforms.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991
