NEW DELHI (AP) -- India's national security is at risk if urgent steps are not taken to boost economic growth, attract new investment in infrastructure and legislate against corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.
Singh warned that if economic growth remained stagnant, new investments were discouraged, government finances did not improve and energy security was not ensured, "then it most certainly affects our national security."
Singh's speech marking the 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule comes after large parts of India's power grid collapsed over two days last month, leaving hundreds of millions without electricity.
Schoolchildren wearing Indian flag colored outfits sit in front of the 17th century Red Fort during a gathering to mark 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Manish Swarup
Young children hold colored piece of cloth to form the Indian flag on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mahesh Kumar A
A woman dressed as Bharat Mata, or Mother India, poses with Indian flags on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mahesh Kumar A
A school girl dressed as Mother India, right, holds an Indian flag as she with others participates in a cultural event on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Bikas Das
Indian school girls perform on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Bikas Das
Indian army soldiers demonstrate a martial art technique on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Aijaz Rahi
Indian combined defense forces stand guard at the India Gate war memorial on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mustafa Quraishi
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers dance to the tunes of patriotic songs on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, at India-Pakistan joint check post at Wagah in Attari, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Sanjeev Syal
An Indian woman cadet from National Cadet Corps gestures towards her colleague on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mukhtar Khan
Jammu and Kashmir state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah salutes after hoisting an Indian flag on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mukhtar Khan
Jammu and Kashmir policemen march on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Channi Anand
Indian girls perform on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Channi Anand
Jammu and Kashmir policemen march on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Channi Anand
Indian police present arms during celebrations marking India's Independence Day at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir on Aug. 15, 2012.ZUMA24.com / Altaf Zargar
A cadet of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) shouts during a march on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Channi Anand
A Kashmiri Muslim school girl during celebrations marking India's Independence Day at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, India on Aug. 15, 2012. ZUMA24.com / Altaf Zargar
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), or Border Force, personnel parade on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Anupam Nath
Indian navy sailors and guests return from the 17th century Red Fort after a gathering to mark the 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Manish Swarup
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, along with other ruling Congress party members greets party President Sonia Gandhi, left, during flag hoisting on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, at the party headquarters in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Manish Swarup
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in blue turban, inspects a guard of honor at the 17th century Red Fort on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Manish Swarup
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaks from the rampart of 17th century Red Fort on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in New Delhi, India , Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Manish Swarup
Members of police wait with their trumpets to perform as a school girl sits on steps during a gathering on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Aijaz Rahi
Indian policemen and civilians watch a parade on the occasion of 65th anniversary of India's independence from British rule, in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Mukhtar Khan
A young Indian child carries the Indian flag as he takes part in a street play during rehearsal for the Indian Independence Day celebrations in the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. AP / Biswaranjan Rout
An Indian man, with his face painted in colors of the Indian flag, attends the rehearsal for the Indian Independence Day celebrations in the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. AP / Biswaranjan Rout
Indian policemen stands guard near a barbed wire during a strike in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Indian controlled Kashmir as security was on high alert after separatist leaders called for a general strike on the India's 65th Independence Day. AP / Dar Yasin
An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard on a deserted street during a strike in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. AP / Dar Yasin
Indians fly kites from their rooftops, a common activity while celebrating Independence Day, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.
AP / Kevin Frayer
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