Cabinet nod to President's address to Parliament

Issues like corruption, improving relations with neighbours are also expected to figure in the address

The Union Cabinet tonight approved President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session beginning February 21.

The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the draft of the President's address which is expected to highlight the government's efforts at reviving the economy, fighting terror and crime against women.

Issues like corruption and improving relations with neighbours are also expected to figure in the address.

The Prime Minister has already promised to bring down fiscal deficit for current year from 5.3% to 4.8% by next year. The measures government has taken to deal with the fall in Index of Industrial Production and GDP growth and for tackling rising inflation are also likely to figure.

Another area of concern, the increase in crimes against women, SC/ST, minorities and children, may also find mention in the President's speech. Government is set to bring a bill on tackling sexual crimes against women after an ordinance was promulgated on the issue last week.

Government is upbeat about its recent achievements in tackling terrorism and controlling the spread of Left wing extremism and may emphasise on these issues in the President's address.