Compare performance before casting votes: PM to electorate

Sivasagar, March 29 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday urged the people to compare the performance of the Congress and non-Congress governments at the centre before casting their votes in the Lok Sabha polls.

He was speaking at a rally for Congress' candidate from Khumtai in Assam.

He said poverty declined three times faster under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"No other decade has recorded as much development as there has been in the last 10 years," Manmohan Singh said.

The prime minister also said special attention was given to the marginalized and underprivileged in the society during his two terms.

Manmohan Singh also listed the achievements of his governemnt in sectors like health, agriculture, education and infrastructure development.

He said the UPA government had given special emphasis to the youth and several steps had been taken to provide them skill training.

He described the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party as a divided house without any direction.

"Their centre of attention is just one man. While in opposition, they have always played a destructive role. How can a party which divides the society give a good government," he asked.

He also admitted the failure of his government to check price rise "as much as was expected".

He dismissed the allegations of corruption during the UPA's tenure and said that no government in the past had worked as much as his to check graft.

"We have ensured that the guilty in all instances are punished. We want to bring more acts to tighten the noose, but the BJP has not been cooperating," he said.