Nobody can dare attack India 8212; PM

Expressing satisfaction at the country8217;s defence preparedness, the Prime Minister said his Government would make every effort to make the country self-confident in its security.

Ridiculing the sanctions imposed by some Western countries in the wake of Pokharan blasts, Vajpayee said those who were raising objections to India8217;s nuclear tests were themselves sitting atop the pile of nuclearweapons. quot;They are trying to preach to us,quot; Vajpayee said.

The function organised by the Hind Samachar group of newspapers was also attended among others by the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Parkash Singh Badal and P K Dhumal.

A told donation of Rs 76.85 lakh was handed over to the Prime Minster by the group8217;s Chief Editor Vijay Chopra.

Citing the example of travails of the Iraqi and Yugoslav people during the US-led attacks, Vajpayee said the modern war was a comprehensive war and the country needed to be fully prepared at all times.

He said the India was also threatened with economic hardships after the Pokharan blasts. quot;We have stood up to these sanctions in the past one year and now the situation has completely changed,quot; he said adding that the foreign countries were now satisfied with India8217;s line of thinking behind the blasts. quot;They no longer questions us for the tests, instead they ask about the progress we have made in improving relations with our neighbours,quot; hesaid.

Vajpayee said the recent Union budget had reflected that his government had managed to steer the country8217;s economy on the right track.

Speaking about his experience of governing the country in the past 13 months, Vajpaye said the experience was not very good as the bureaucratic bottlenecks afflicting the system were still in place. He said he was trying to change the system inherited and hoped to succeed when he returned for another term.

Calling upon the newspapers to fight for their freedom and rights, Vajpayee said the newspapers should also exercise self restraint when needed.

The Chief Minsters of Punjab and Himachal called upon Vajpayee to formulate a national policy of award compensation to the families of soldiers being killed in the counter-insurgency operations in different parts of the country. The PM also honoured the families of five Army officers who were recently killed in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir and Assam.