NEW DELHI, 23 May 2005 — India’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh completed one year in power yesterday with low-key celebrations marked by the absence of its left allies.

Manmohan promised bold initiatives to boost economic growth to make India shine for all.

He said “bold initiatives would be taken to restructure public finances, including subsidies, and reform ministries to unleash entrepreneurial skills and increase investment.

“The people of our country are impatient for change, impatient for better quality of life. They are impatient for new opportunities. We will be failing them if we do not think ‘out of the box’ and act with courage,” Manmohan said.

The event — at his official residence at 7, Race Course Road and attended by some 70 Cabinet colleagues and coalition partners — also saw the release of a booklet on the UPA government’s performance.

The government will pursue policies that unleash enterprise, creativity and risk-taking, while addressing needs of all citizens and ensuring them the right to decent livelihood and opportunity.

Manmohan also stressed the need for reducing subsidies and diverting funds to social sector schemes. “There is urgent need for restructuring of public expenditure and working of ministries.”

“We have pledged to the people that we do want India to shine — but shine for all,” he said in a reference to the “India Shining” campaign slogan of the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government that was said by critics to mock the millions of deprived people in the country who live below the poverty line and to glorify only aspirations of the middle class.

The 42-page booklet — “A Caring Government: One Year of the UPA Government” — gave an account of the ruling coalition’s achievements in areas like social welfare, governance, economy, Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern India, national security and foreign relations.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi led the function in congratulating Manmohan for his dignified and effective leadership and for enhancing India’s prestige across the globe. Sonia’s thoughts were reflected in the booklet, which emphasized the achievements in foreign policy, particularly in forging better relations with Pakistan, China and the US.

“We can look back with satisfaction and have a long way to go in redeeming our pledges in the Common Minimum Program,” said Sonia.

In many ways Sonia tacitly congratulated Manmohan for the manner in which he had confounded critics with his fine balancing act — between competing and ambitious Cabinet stalwarts and bitter critics among the Communist allies.

The Left parties were, however, conspicuous by their absence at the event.

Sonia criticized the opposition for failing to recognize that they had been decisively thrown out of power and said: “We began a historic endeavor together as a coalition. We set out to repair India’s secular fabric.”

She said despite some shocks in the form of the Dec. 26 tsunami and high crude oil prices, the Manmohan government had not only worked well but also demonstrated that coalitions can work smoothly.

“The UPA came into existence last year and its government is running smoothly largely as a result of the strenuous efforts of Soniaji,” Manmohan, whose selection as prime minister came as a surprise, said of his party president.

“Generations to come will marvel at Soniaji’s renunciation of the seat of power, an act which is in the great traditions of sages and saints of this ancient land,” Manmohan said to applause from the assembled dignitaries.

Among those present at the event were Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren, Labor Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.

Thanking coalition partners and leaders of Left parties, which prop up his government, Manmohan said the government had no option but to walk on two legs.

— Additional input from IANS.