Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Thursday assured that India would not suffer extensively from the ravages of the global economic meltdown.

In a statement, read out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha, Singh, who is recuperating from a cardiac bypass surgery, said," Today we are addressing the global downturn with the same resolve and imagination. Let me assure this House, that India would emerge the least affected among the countries of the world from the current economic crisis."

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and the son of former Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, Naresh Gujral, on Thursday described the interim budget announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as deficient and failing to address the hardships faced by the 'Aam Aadmi'.

He also condemned the UPA Government for squandering away the economic gains made by the country.

Reykjavik - The two remaining governors of the central bank of Iceland were due to resign after weeks of criticism of their handling of the economic crisis, reports said Thursday.

Central bank governor David Oddsson and governor Eirikur Gudnason, were reported to have said goodbye to bank employees, public broadcaster RUV said.

The report came as parliament was due to adopt a bill changing the composition of the central bank, including replacing the three governors with a single governor.

Ruling out speculation of a price-cut in diesel on Thursday, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said the issue is not on the Cabinet's agenda.

Talking to reporters here today, Deora refused to comment on the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, scheduled for Friday evening to discuss fuel price revision.

Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey said: "I have not been informed of any meeting till now."

With the state-owned oil firms gaining Rs 3.26 per litre, a reduction in retail rates is expected.

Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy on Thursday said that despite implementing key components of Central Government's Bharat Nirman Yojana in Jharkhand and Orissa, if the two State governments requested, a special package could be considered.

He also said that special schemes like the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and NREGA are being implemented in both Jharkhand and Orissa.

CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat saw a post-poll realignment of forces opposed to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

At a political rally held in Kerala, he hoped aloud about a fresh realignment of non-Congress and non-BJP forces take shape after the impending general elections.

Addressing the rally, Karat lambasted the Congress-led UPA Government and the BJP. He claimed that CPI (M) was the only party capable of creating an alternative to them.