NEW DELHI, Aug 15: An August sun broke through the monsoon clouds as Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral unfurled the Tricolour today, the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence.

In an 80-minute address, tinged with nostalgia, Gujral pledged to weed out corruption from the veins of the country and promised to begin a new `satyagraha' for ending the menace. He also unwrapped an ambitious package of policies for the girl child, women, freedom fighters, farmers and non-resident Indians.

Launching a broadside on corruption, he announced, ``Anyone with any proof of corruption against any of my Cabinet member can come to me and action will be taken without reservations.''

``I am warning all those people who think that corruption is their birth right. The law will be strengthened and I promise that no corrupt person will be pardoned.''

``We have to launch a `satyagraha' (non-cooperation movement) against corruption on the lines preached by Mahatma Gandhi in order to isolate corrupt elements,'' he said, and observed, ``I had seen when Gandhiji started the salt satyaraha, people said that no nation got freedom with a fistful of salt, but we did that.

We can do it again.'' On the Gujral Doctrine and relations with Pakistan, he said, ``We want friendly relations with Pakistan. But friendship is only possible when there is no interference in internal affairs of other nations. We want friendship but not at the cost of our territorial integrity.''

``India can make economic concessions with any nation for regional growth, but not on issues of territory or secularism,'' he said.

His address was preceded by a fly-past, for the first time on an Independence Day, of three Sukhoi-30 fighters, four MI-17 helicopters and nine Kiran trainer jets.

He was flanked on the rampart on left by five former prime ministers, H D Deve Gowda, Atal Behari Vajpayee, P V Narasimha Rao, Chandrashekhar and V P Singh. On his right were bureaucrats and foreign guests of honour.Emotionally recalling the turbulent times of partition, he said, ``A lot of things cross my mind as I stand here.

Fifty years ago, as the leaders in Central Hall looked at future, places like Punjab were staring at the spectre of communal tension, innocent people were being stabbed to death, women were being raped. .''

``Many people like me were sad. We had crossed the road, ahead of us was hope and behind us was darkness,'' he said, but added, ``We are proud to say that Indian Independence was won, not given. And once the colonial flag was uprooted, it could not stay anywhere. And the last chapter was closed recently in Hong Kong.''

Announcing ground-breaking measures for the girl child, he said that a fund would be set up for each girl child born to families below the poverty line. Also, a law would be introduced for prohibiting medical practitioners from disclosing the gender of a foetus.

``Our nation is a little reluctant to give women their due share in politics. I reiterate that women should get their full rights in politics, without which no country can progress,'' he said.

Prime Minister said high-level committees would be set up in various Union ministries to monitor all Government buying to prevent `kickbacks'.

He also reiterated India's determination not to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) under any pressure.

Talking of making primary education a fundamental right, he observed, ``states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Mizoram and some extent Tamil Nadu have made headway in ending illiteracy and consequently, checking population growth.''

The pension to freedom fighters would be doubled and linked to the dearness allowance, ensuring automatic rise, as a ``small gift'' from a grateful nation.

He said the Lok Pal Bill, right of information Bill, Bill on legal reforms, and launching of national population policy, safai-karmachari policy and anti-pollution campaign would be presented in the next session of Parliament.

Noting that India wanted to increase its growth rate to ten per cent, he said, ``We are a big world market and we should work for economic independence. In the common minimum programme of United Front Government, the emphasis is on keeping the public sector companies going, at the same time promoting external funding under the liberalisation policy. We have already revived 10 PSUs since I took over.''

``The UF Government also concentrates on infrastructure, like high speed roads, power and communication,'' he said. Assuring incentives to non-resident Indians to invest in India, the Prime Minister said the visa restrictions will be eased, they would get right to buy property and children would be given educational facilities in India.

He expressed satisfaction over the inflow of foreign investment, especially from Europe and the US.Referring to insurgency in Kashmir and the North-East, Gujral appealed to the ``misguided youth'' to give up violence and join the national mainstream.Stating that the cease-fire in Nagaland was succeeding, he said that in Kashmir the elected Government was firmly saddled to carry out developmental work.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.