Saturday, July 2 2005 16:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mysore: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today (July 2, 2005) said it was inevitable to take certain 'hard decisions' on economic matters in the interest of the development of the country.

Chidambaram said it was natural that a section of the people criticised 'such decisions'. But before doing so, it would be worthwhile if they understand the realities of the global scenario as existing today.

Laying the foundation stone for the Rotary midtown academy building here, he also wondered if subsidies to LPG cylinder and pension to Government employees could continue forever, as it could affect the finances of the states.

He asked as to who needed more attention, whether a poor man subsisting on one meal a day, or an LPG user.

Chidambaram said compared to many other countries, India could boast of abundant natural resources and added that it was necessary to take 'suitable corrective' measures to harness those resources.

Observing that Indians living abroad had made a name and striven hard to enrich the life of those countries, he asked as to why those in our country should not do their best to see that India became stronger economically.