Seeking a "new beginning" in the year ahead, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday night asked people to believe in the resilience of democracy and its capacity to deal with infirmities through course correction.
"Let us make a new beginning to the year. Let us dispel the air of despondency and cynicism," Singh said in his New Year message, assuring people that he and his government would work with renewed resolve for their welfare.
Wishing the people a happy new year, he said, "We will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges of inflation, cleansing our governing processes, national security and making our delivery system work for the aam aadmi."
"We need to believe in the resilience of our democracy and its capacity to deal with infirmities and shortcomings through course correction."
The prime minister said on the eve of the new year, it is an occasion to take stock of the year gone by and of the challenges that lie ahead.
The government has been on the backfoot in the wake of a series of scandals and the Opposition had paralysed Winter Session of Parliament demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
There has also been growing concern over rising inflation and prices of essential commodities.