In Diwali message, PM hopes 'new phase of optimism' will dawn

In his Diwali message, Singh has wished peace and prosperity for the people.

He expressed hope that the festival of lights this year will "mark the beginning of a new phase of optimism" for each one of the countrymen, a PMO statement said.

Singh, whose government has been battling a number of corruption allegations and attack over economic decisions like FDI in retail, has been maintaining that "mindless atmosphere of negativity and pessimism" would hurt the country, particularly the investment prospects.

On Saturday, he said his government had dispelled the atmosphere of 'gloom and doom'.

Earlier, in a televised address, the Prime Minister had asked people not to be misled by "false information" being spread to create fear over various economic decisions.

Warning against the country slipping back into 1991 economic crisis, he had said time has come for "hard decisions" to put the country on the path of high and inclusive growth.