What's India's new ministers said...

There are around 68 new government ministers

It has been a busy time for the India's newly-elected Congress party-led government which set to work on Monday spelling out its key priorities.

Several new ministers began moving into their offices, and did not miss the opportunity of speaking to the media as they did so.

Among them were the finance and foreign ministers, pledging respectively to carry on with economic reforms and pursue warmer relations with Pakistan.

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Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram

"The government will concentrate on promoting growth in agriculture, manufacturing and employment.

"These three sectors require massive investments, both public and private.

"It will be my endeavour to promote investment, which is key to growth of jobs and income."

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Foreign Minister Natwar Singh

"We will further strengthen, widen and deepen our relations with Pakistan.

"I myself served as ambassador to Pakistan and have some personal knowledge of the complexities and subtleties of India-Pakistan relations.

"India will pursue a foreign policy not tied to any dogma."

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Home Minister Shivraj Patil

"The government would effectively deal with terrorism in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir while keeping the dialogue process open with everyone concerned to ensure peace and harmony.

"We will also examine the issue surrounding the Pevention of Terrorism Ordinance comprehensively," he said.

"We do not consider POTA as necessary but we will examine the issue carefully and not take any hasty measure."

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Aviation Minister Praful Patel

"The Delhi and Bombay airports are the gateways to India... and we must get our act together on them.

"We will, at an appropriate time, in the short run, go to the honourable prime minister, seek his advice and we will then go ahead with the process [of privatising the two airports]."

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Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav

"Our government will complete its five-year term and go to the polls on the basis of our performance.

"I am not the man to sit in office and you will see me travelling on trains despite the security cover."