I am grateful to the people of India, says PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be celebrating his 77 birthday in Geneva Switzerland on way to New Delhi after attending the G-20 summit at Pittsburgh in the United States. He is scheduled to leave in few hours from now.

On completion of G-20 meeting Prime Minister Singh interacted with mediapersons who greeted him in advance. When asked about message on the occasion PM said, "I am grateful to people of India for giving me opportunity to serve the nation. I completed five years. Again, they renewed their confidence in me that is the debt I can never pay off. I can only make an effort to repay it by dedicating my self to the nation and serve it in best of my ability."

PM was born on 26 September, 1932, in Gah village of Punjab now known as Chakwal district in Pakistan.

He married in 1958 to Gursharan Kaur. They have three daughters. PM's wife and youngest daughter Daman are accompanying him on this tour. Daman is a social worker and writer. In Pittsburgh their US-based daughter Amrit spent some time with the family.

Amrit Singh is a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union in New York City.

"On this occasion, I pray to God to give me strength so that I can serve my countrymen properly," he said.

When journalists expressed regret that they could not offer him a birthday cake on board Air India One, he said, "Your affection is enough for me."

Later, Dr Singh sent a cake to the media enclosure.