NEW DELHI: After setting off a burst of shrill exchanges with Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Friday for regional cooperation in South Asia as a key means to fight poverty.

The diplomatic corner at the Red Fort assembly where the prime minister delivered his first Indepen­dence Day address seemed relieved at the absence of any feared controversial follow-up to recent accusations of terrorism against Islamabad.

In widely noted comments Mr Modi also said India had been shamed by a recent spate of rapes, as he made his extempore speech, unusual for recent prime ministers.

He called on parents to take responsibility for their sons’ actions, saying parents must teach their sons the difference between right and wrong.

Mr Modi also pledged bank accounts for all and toilets in every school.

The capital was placed under a blanket of security, with thousands of police and soldiers deployed across the city.

Mr Modi, who led his party to victory in this summer’s general election, addressed the nation from the 17th Century Red Fort in Delhi.

He did not read from a prepared text and for the first time in many years the prime minister did not stand behind a bullet-proof screen.

Taboo issues

Mr Modi also addressed taboo subjects such as foeticide and communal violence, AFP added.

Despite laws banning parents from finding out the sex of their unborn child, he said only 940 girls were being born for every 1,000 boys.

“Who is responsible for this imbalance in our society? I urge the doctors and mothers not to sacrifice their daughters for sons,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, has been the scene of several recent flare-ups in communal violence between Hindus and Muslims. Before becoming premier, Mr Modi was chief minister of the state of Gujarat where he was in charge in 2002 during one of the India’s deadliest chapters of communal violence since independence.

But in his speech, he said communal violence was “stalling the growth of the nation” and had gone on for “too long”.

He also announced that the central planning commission, which under previous governments drew up Soviet-style five-year economic plans, would be replaced by a new undefined federal institution.

Mr Modi said that since becoming premier he had been taken aback by the departmental infighting and discord between ministries.

“Government should be an organic entity, moving in one direction with a common aim goal. I am trying to break down these walls,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2014