70 percent of India's imports of oil and oil products are imported from abroad. There is uncertainty about supply. There is uncertainty about prices. And that hurts India's development.

I believe whether it is the United States or Europe, they will all end up as multicultural societies.

The Chinese have certain advantages. The fact that it's a single party government. But I do believe in the long run the fact that India is a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. Our system is slow to move but I'm confident that once decisions are taken they are going to be far more durable.

The emergence of India as a major global power is an idea whose time has come.

We need multiculturalism, respect for diversity, tolerance, respect for diverse faiths.

I believe that without looking at each other as rivals or as competitors, in a democratic India, operating in the framework of an open economy, an open society has, I think, some significance for developing countries, not only in Asia but outside Asia.

[Urbanization] is the inevitable outcome of the processes of growth and the processes of modernization.