President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday touched on almost every incident the country has witnessed since the beginning of last year, including the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Army's sacrifice in Galwan and the farmers' tractor rally that turned violent on Republic Day, while addressing the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament on Friday.
Modi to chair all-party meet ahead of Budget Session
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair an all-party meeting on Saturday through video conferencing ahead of the Budget Session for smooth functioning of Parliament.Leaders of all parties have been invited to attend the meeting that is scheduled to be held in the backdrop of the ongoing farmers' agitation against the agricultural legislations passed in September and have kept the government and opposition at loggerheads.
The government has not shown any inclination towards repealing the farm laws which is the prime demand of the protesting farmers.
On Friday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla presided over a meeting of the floor leaders.
After the meeting, Birla said he has requested leaders of all parties in Lok Sabha to respect the dignity of the House, and sought their cooperation for the smooth conduct of the proceedings.
A total of 18 Opposition parties boycotted the Presidential address on Friday on the commencement of the Budget Session of Parliament the first of the new decade.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been repeating that the government should find solutions regarding the farmers' agitation.
Along with the Congress, 17 opposition parties had announced boycott of Kovind's address to express solidarity with farmers, who have been protesting since November 26 in Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders along Delhi, and other places to press for their demands.
Centre-states coordination strengthened democracy: President Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday lauded the coordination between the central and state governments which, he said, had strengthened democracy as well as the prestige of the Constitution."My government has also presented a unique example of collective power of the federal structure. This coordination between the central and state governments has strengthened democracy and also strengthened the Constitution's prestige," he said in his address to the members of both the Houses of Parliament at the commencement of its Budget Session.
"No matter how big the challenge is, we will not stop; India will not stop. Whenever India has united, it has achieved goals considered impossible.
"In this fight against the coronavirus pandemic, we also lost many countrymen. A man dear to all of us and my predecessor President Pranab Mukherjee also passed away during this period. Six members of Parliament also left us untimely because of coronavirus. I pay my humble tributes to all.
"I am satisfied that due to timely decisions of my government, the lives of millions of countrymen were saved. Today, the number of new corona patients is decreasing rapidly and those cured of the infection is very high," the President said.
Kovind also talked about the Union government's actions on the economic front during the pandemic. He said that along with the announcement of a record economic package to handle the Indian economy, the government also took care that no poor starved.
"Through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 80 crore people were ensured 5 kg extra grain free of cost per month for eight months. The government also cared for the migrant workers."
The President said: "My government also launched the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan in six states to provide jobs to migrants who had returned to their native villages from cities during the epidemic. "This helped create employment equivalent to 50 crore man days."
"Nearly Rs 31,000 crore were also directly transferred to the Jan Dhan accounts of poor women. During this period, more than 14 crore gas cylinders were given to poor women beneficiaries free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana across the country."
President Kovind mentions Covid, Galwan, R-Day chaos in address to Parliament
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday touched on almost every incident the country has witnessed since the beginning of last year, including the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Army's sacrifice in Galwan and the farmers' tractor rally that turned violent on Republic Day, while addressing the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament on Friday.
The President said that the joint sitting of Parliament being held during the time of the coronavirus pandemic has great significance, and mentioned that it is the "beginning of a new year and a new decade".
"We will also be entering the 75th year of India's independence this year," said the President, adding "all the Members of Parliament present here today embody the conviction held by every Indian that the toughest of challenges will deter neither us nor India".
"Whenever India has remained united, it has been able to attain even seemingly unattainable goals," Kovind said.
He noted that the country faced every crisis with fortitude, be it the coronavirus pandemic, floods, earthquakes or major cyclones in several states, locust attack or the bird flu.
The recent past also saw an unprecedented escalation in tension along the border.
The nation stood together, battled crises on multiple fronts and surmounted every challenge.
During this period, we have all witnessed the unparalleled courage, endurance, discipline and spirit of service of our countrymen, the President said.
In this fight against the pandemic, Kovind said we have also suffered the untimely loss of life of a number of our countrymen.
"Our beloved former President and my predecessor Pranab Mukherjee too passed away during the pandemic. The untimely demise of six Members of Parliament was also due to the coronavirus. I pay my heartfelt tribute to all of them."
Mentioning the farmers' agitation over the three contentious farm laws, the President said Parliament approved these important farm reforms seven months ago.
He said that the three farm reforms, have started reaching out to more than 10 crore small-time farmers instantly.
Appreciating the advantages that these reforms would bring to the small farmers, the President said several political parties too had, from time to time, expressed their support.
"Discussions were done over these farm reforms in every part of the country for over two decades."
Currently, Kovind said, the Apex Court has stayed the implementation of these laws, and his government respects the decision of the court and shall abide by it.
He added that his government holds in high esteem the values of democracy and sanctity of the Constitution and that it is continuously making efforts to dispel the misunderstanding created in the context of these laws.
Condemning Republic Day's tractor rally organised by the farmers that turned violent, leading to the death of a farmer and leaving many security personnel injured, the President said his government has always respected freedom of expression and holding of peaceful agitations in a democratic set up.
However, Kovind said the recent acts of "dishonouring the National Flag and showing disrespect to the auspicious occasion of the Republic Day are unfortunate".
"While the Constitution gives us the right to freedom of expression it is also expected that we abide by the laws and rules with equal sincerity," he said.
