NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned that inimical forces “both inside and outside India” were trying to stunt the country’s growth and called for defeating the “twin threats” of terrorism and communalism.

“Inimical forces, both inside and outside India, are trying to stunt growth and well-being of the country. The twin threats of terrorism and communalism must be defeated,” Manmohan Singh told National Cadet Corps cadets at their Prime Minister’s Rally here Jan 28.

“In such circumstances the responsibility of youth organizations like NCC that inspires its cadets to serve the country increase manifold,” he said after reviewing the NCC cadets’ parade.

The Prime Minister said though the 1.3 million cadet strong NCC was a large organization, it comprised just about four per cent of the eligible youth in the country.

“I wish and urge you to increase this number so that many more eligible youth can benefit from the NCC’s activities,” he said.

Applauding the “disciplined and smart” turn out of the NCC cadets at the parade, Manmohan Singh congratulated them on their achievements in activities like mountaineering and sports at the global level.

Recalling that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had in 1952 directed inclusion of community development as a curriculum in NCC, Manmohan Singh said he was happy to note that the cadets were actively involved in disaster relief and social service, apart from global warming, environment, cancer and AIDS relief.

He also called for expanding the scope of the youth exchange program of the NCC to increase the number of cadets from foreign countries attending                 the camp.

Defense Minister A K Antony, Minister of State for Defense M M Pallam Raju, Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik and Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma were present on the occasion.

Manmohan Singh also gave away awards to the winners of various trophies and medals at the camp held in connection with the 61st Republic Day Parade on Jan 26.

The Champion Directorate trophy for 2010 went to Maharashtra, while Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Directorate was adjudged the runners up.

The Best Directorate for Girls Wing went to Tamil Nadu, the Best Directorate (Army) Trophy  went to Kerala and the Navy and Air Wings trophies were won by Maharashtra.

There were nearly 100 cadets from countries like Sri Lanka, Russia and Kazakhstan who attended the parade and marched alongside the Indian NCC cadets.

The NCC also displayed the war-fighting training provided to them at the camp, including slithering operations and flying of micro-light aircraft and mass band.                                 (PTI)