Facing massive anti-incumbency ahead of the upcoming national elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the Congress needed to highlight its achievements properly to people to ensure victory again.
Speaking at the AICC meet today, Singh said, "There is no doubt about the fact that if we prepare properly for the 2014 polls and get the message about out achievements to the people we will win and it will be a victory for Rahulji."
Rahul Gandhi is set to head the party's campaign in the national elections but while he will head the poll committee of the party, the Congress Vice President isn't going to be the party's official prime ministerial candidate.
The Prime Minister justified the Congress returning to power and said it was the only progressive party for the country.
Manmohan Singh endorsed Rahul Gandhi in his speech. Reuters image
"Our history is a proud one. Our philosophy is secular. We have always concentrated on uplifting the poor," Singh said.
Singh hit out at opposition parties that threatened the Congress's campaign and said that if their claims were analysed the truth of it being hollow would be revealed.
"We will have to also get the message to the people to analyse the record of the opposition parties when they have been in power. If compared it will become clear exactly how well they have performed as compared to us," he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the schemes of the UPA and said that over the last 9 years average economic growth had been around 7 percent which was higher than any nine-year period in the past.
"We accept that growth has been hit by decisions not being taken on infrastructure projects. Decisions are also not being taken on account of the fact that they fear being accused of corruption," Singh said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the various legislation that had been created for the poor and other socially disadvantaged groups which he said had brought down poverty in the nation.
"The rate at which poverty has reduced has also increased," the Prime Minister said.
"I know there are different views on the poverty line among economists. But no matter how you analyse it, poverty has reduced in the country," Singh said.
He highlighted the benefit of various schemes for people living in rural areas and said that many states that were considered backward at a time were progressing quickly now.
He highlighted the government's achicevements in education including the mid-day meal scheme and also spoke of institutions of higher learning that had also been set up during the UPA tenure.
Singh brushed aside criticism of rising prices that the government has been facing and said there had been there had been residual benefits.
"There has been a price rise because of rise in food prices but it has also meant that the wages of those involved in producing it has risen," Singh said.
The Prime Minister thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her support during the UPA tenure.
"The commitment shown by Sonia Gandhi has benefited the government tremendously," he said.
Singh said he believed that the government hadn't got the credit for its achievements because of rising aspirations among the youth who now want more responsive and growing economic systems.
"It is no surprise that there is pressure on the government to deliver services quickly and efficiently to the people," he said.
Singh highlighted the various measures undertaken by the party to combat corruption including the Right to Information Act and the Lokpal.
"I would also like to say here that we have made mistakes but we have always tried to correct them and rectify them," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that if India managed the same level of growth that it had over the past decade it would become a middle income nation.
"Our economy is facing difficulties. just slogans won't solve it...The nation needs a stable political climate," he said.
"I have no doubt at all that under Rahul Gandhi's guidance we will achieve complete success," he said.
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