Telangana Bill passage shows country can take difficult decisions: Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Passage of Telangana bill indicated that this country can take "difficult" decisions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the Lok Sabha today.

In his concluding remarks on the last day of the 15th Lok Sabha, he said the manner in which the Telangana Bill was passed was another example that the country was capable of taking difficult decisions.

Unlike the disruptions and the slogan shouting, the House witnessed bonhomie and camaraderie on the last day with Prime Minister, Leader of the House Sushilkumar Shinde, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj as also some other party leaders speaking well of each other.

Singh hoped that a new sense of consensus will emerge to carry the country to new pathways, noting that "out of this strife and tensionful atmosphere, birth of a new atmosphere of hope will emerge."

The Prime Minister, who has been at the helm for the past 10 years and has declared that he will not opt for a third term, said people will now have an opportunity to judge on performance, weaknesses and achievements of the government in the upcoming elections.

He hailed Shinde for performing his duties with superb aplomb and also praised the role of the Leader of the Opposition.