'My Salutations To Mother India': Outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind's Address To Nation On Eve Of Demitting Office

Droupadi Murmu was elected to be the next President of India on Thursday, after she comprehensively defeated the joint opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha.

Outgoing President Ramnath Kovind addressing nation on the eve of demitting office.

Source : Twitter/@rashtrapatibhvn

New Delhi: Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation as his tenure as the 14^th president of India ended on Sunday. On the eve of demitting office, outgoing President Kovind expressed his gratitude to all the citizens of the country and elected representatives. "I express my deep gratitude to all fellow citizens and to your elected representatives. I have been inspired and energised by my interactions with citizens during my visits across the country. I received full cooperation, support and blessings from all sections of society," he said. 

Reflecting upon his childhood and early days, Kovind said he "salutes the power of vibrant democratic system of our country" as it gave opportunity to a person "who grew up in a very ordinary family of Paraunkh village of Kanpur Dehat district." He recounted his visit to his native village during the tenure of the President and touching the feet of the elderly teachers at his Kanpur school to seek their" requesting younger generation to stay connected with their roots.

"During the five years of my tenure, I have discharged my duties to the best of my ability. Being successor to great personalities like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, I have been very conscious in discharging my duties," he added. 

LIVE: President Kovind addresses the nation on the eve of demitting office https://t.co/RonFNeCIAG

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He laid stress to the concept of social democracy over political democracy quoting Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and hailed the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, saying they must not be mistaken as abstractions beacause they ''are lofty, noble and uplifting''.

In his address, the outgoing President commemorated struggles of our freedom fighters who helped in liberating our country from colonial rule and shaping modern India. "From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay – nowhere in the history of humankind have so many great minds come together for a common cause," he said. 

"Mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet, outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind said in his farewell address to the nation on Sunday as he appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations.

Emphasising that the country is getting equipped to make the 21st century "the century of India", Kovind highlighted the importance of healthcare and education and said these, along with economic reforms, would enable citizens to pursue happiness by discovering their potential.

Notably, Droupadi Murmu was elected to be the next President of India on Thursday, after she comprehensively defeated the joint opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha. Murmu will take oath at the Central Hall of Parliament on Monday.

Meanwhile, the farewell ceremony of the outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind took place began at the Parliament on Saturday.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla were present at the venue as both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs jointly hosted the farewell for Kovind.

READ HERE: 'MPs Should Follow Gandhian Philosophy In Parliament': Outgoing Prez Ramnath Kovind During Farewell Speech

Addressing the event, the outgoing president, as quoted by news agency ANI said, "Five years ago, I took oath as President of India here in Central Hall. All MPs have a special place in my heart."

"Parliament is a temple of democracy and the MPs should always follow Gandhian philosophy while exercising rights of debate and dissent in Parliament," Kovind said.

Extending his greetings to the newly elected president Droupadi Murmu, he said, "I heartily congratulate Droupadi Murmu for being elected as next president. The country will benefit from her guidance."