Jammu: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday that his government had substantially, if not fully, redeemed its pledge to promote science and technology as the key driver of India's development.
Inaugurating the 101st session of the Indian Science Congress at Jammu University here Monday, the prime minister said: "I am delighted to be part of the very first Indian Science Congress session to be held in the state of Jammu and Kashmir."
"I thank the general president of the Indian Science Congress Association, Professor Sobti, for his initiative to bring this premier congregation of scientists for the first time to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Their presence here is a vindication of our commitment to achieving inclusive and balanced development of our nation.
"Although not a scientist myself, I have always been deeply aware of the importance of science and its role in the development of our nation. I belong to a generation which drew its inspiration from the life and work of Jawaharlal Nehru, our first prime minister, who asked at the dawn of independence: 'Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn, we have to seek its aid...' The future belongs to science."
