India needs more young leaders: PM

New Delhi : Calling for more Indian youth to take up leadership positions in all walks of life, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the young leaders will be able to infuse creativity, energy and dynamism in national affairs.

“Our country needs many more youth leaders to infuse creativity, energy and dynamism in different fields of national endeavour,” the 78-year-old prime minister said in his address to the National Cadet Corps (NCC) on the occasion of a parade to mark the end of their annual Republic Day camp in Delhi Cantonment.

“I have great faith in the youth of our country. I have no doubt that given the right opportunity, they will rise to the occasion,” he said, taking the salute from young NCC cadets at the parade that included both mounted and marching contingents.

Lauding the cadets for their contribution in various fields, including sports and community service, the prime minister said: “I am very happy to learn that NCC cadets extended invaluable help in the aftermath of the serial bomb blast in Mumbai and the earthquake last year.”

He also noted that many Indian national leaders such as freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose were cadets when they imbibed leadership qualities.

Conveying his wishes to the NCC cadets from friendly foreign nations, Manmohan Singh urged them to carry back the message of “friendship, love and peace” from India.

The prime minister also distributed the medals and awards won by cadets representing 17 NCC directorates in the competitions held as part of their month-long camp.

The skills display by cadets, following the parade, included a modern warfare scenario and battlefield that they simulated, which included difficult air drops from helicopters.