Cautioning that lack of political consensus on many issues was impeding rapid economic growth, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said time has come to view development processes as matters of national security.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 66th Independence Day, he hoped that all political parties will help the government in passing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill in Parliament. "We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption," Singh said.

While doing so, steps will be taken to see that the morale of public functionaries taking decisions in public interest is not affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation, he said. On economic growth, the prime minister said that lack of political consensus was coming in its way.

"As far as creating an environment within the country for rapid economic growth is concerned, I believe that we are not being able to achieve this because of a lack of political consensus on many issues," Singh said.