Saturday, May 7 2005 13:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Under attack from the Opposition for not acting against "tainted" Ministers in his Cabinet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 7, 2005) said steps taken by late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to eliminate corruption and restore faith in governance "assume enormous significance".

Inaugurating the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial in New Delhi, he said Shastri waged a relentless battle against corruption and in favour of values in public life. "His decision to resign from the position of Railway Minister after a rail accident has become a popular tale of public accountability for generations," Singh said.

He said that as Union Home Minister, the late leader was instrumental in appointing one of the first-ever committees on Prevention of Corruption.

"Today, with the benefit of hindsight, the steps taken by Shastriji assume enormous significance in the struggle to eliminate corruption and restore faith in our governance," the Prime Minister said.

Recalling Shastri's strong commitment to secularism and the welfare of all sections of society, Singh said, "When a foreign news agency tried to portray the India-Pakistan conflict of 1965 as a 'communal' conflict, Shastriji took great offence to this canard".

The Prime Minister quoted Shastri as saying, "We are not working to make India a Hindu or a Muslim State. It is a distortion of facts to accuse India of hostility to Pakistan on account of the narrow point of view of religion. The defence of the country has nothing to do with religion; it is a matter of freedom and sovereignty of the Motherland."

Lauding Shastri's contribution in laying the foundations of food security in the country, the Prime Minister said the country was indebted to the late leader for the present day success of the White Revolution.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was formed in 1965 during Shastri's tenure as Prime Minister and this project has since helped the country in creating self-sufficiency in milk production, trebling the nation's milk production within a span of two and a half decades, he said.

Observing that Shastri was committed to an open and liberal economy, Singh said that anticipating later day views on economic reform, the late leader once observed, "As we function in a democracy- and democracy is the basis of our political structure- we cannot have a regimented type of economy".

Shastri gave the country a sense of security and comfort during a turbulent and trying period when the world speculated over the question "After Nehru Who?" Singh said adding that Shastri's leadership style earned him the trust and confidence of this nation.

The function was attended by former President R Venkataraman, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and a host of dignitaries.