NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament for the second time this year. He told a joint session of Parliament that the new government's main objective was to build a secure nation. The Congress described his speech in Parliament as "hollow" and "uninspiring".

Addressing the media, party leader Anand Sharma and Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Kovind's address to the joint session of Parliament was just a repetition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech.

"The President's address was just a repetition of Modi's speech. He has missed major points like unemployment and GDP downfall," IANS quoted Sharma as saying.

He took a dig at Kovind for supporting the 'one nation, one election' concept and said that simultaneous elections were not feasible due to the country's diversity.

Making a strong case for simultaneous parliamentary and Assembly elections, the President said this was the need of the hour to accelerate development.

(With inputs from IANS)