Pledging to build an "environment of peace" among communities, Prime Minister designate Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that the country cannot be divided on the basis of religion and race and promised a stable government that will run its full term.
The architect of economic reforms in the nineties said his Government would pursue economic reforms with human face.
At an unscheduled press conference the leader of new government spoke on various issues and said the law of land should prevail in settlement of the Ayodhya dispute while his government was not averse to "serious" negotiations for a "sensible" solution between the contesting parties that would have the sanction of the court.
On Jammu and Kashmir, he said the new government would discuss with "all interested groups" to bring peace.
Singh, who is likely to be sworn in Prime Minister on Saturday, made it clear that India would like to have the most friendly relations with all neighbours "more so with Pakistan than with any other".
Singh expressed the hope that friction between the two countries would be a "thing of the past" and said they must find ways and means to resolve all outstanding problems peacefully.
"Unity and communal harmony are a priority and my government will work to restore communal harmony," he said.
"We cannot divide people on the basis of religion and race. We are an ancient civilisation and the most tolerant civilisation. The essence of Hinduism is that it talks of different paths but the goal is same," he said.
In a virtual indictment of the outgoing government, he said divisive forces were allowed a "free play which I believe in the long run is extremely injurious to orderly development."
Singh said, "There are a lot a challenges ahead of us. Communal harmony needs to be strengthened. If we are divided in the name of religion, the country is in danger. To strengthen development, we have to create an environment of peace."
Asked whether his government would give compensation to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he said there could be no compensation for people who have lost their near and dear whether it is in Gujarat or the anti-Sikh violence. "Whatever possible will be done," he said adding he was anguished over the riots that took place.
He also expressed concern over the functioning of judiciary in Gujarat but parried a question whether President's rule will be imposed in the state.
Maintaining that the country cannot be divided on the basis of religion and race, Singh said, "I seek the cooperation of all patriotic forces in the dharm yudh against chronic poverty, ignorance and diseases".
Dismissing a question whether there would be two power centres in view of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's refusal to take up Prime Ministership, Singh said "Gandhi will remain a guiding force for us. This is a coalition government and I do not see any problem."
Asserting that this government will last its full term of five years, he said, "I have no doubt about the stability of this government. I am sure all allies and supporting partners will strengthen our bonds and this government will last five years."
On Pakistan, the Prime Minister designate said friction between India and that country should be a "thing of the past".
"We seek the most friendly relations with our neighbours, more so with Pakistan than with any other. We must find the ways and means to resolve all outstanding problems that have been a source of friction and the unfortunate history of our relations with Pakistan.
"It is our sincere hope that that should become a thing of the past," he said adding that the two countries should look to the future with hope.
"That is not impossible. Who could have imagined that some 15 years ago the Berlin Wall would melt, then the world saw what was impossible in international politics became a norm", Singh said.
He said "it will be our effort without sacrificing our national security imperative, to create an environment to move forward to improve our relations with Pakistan."