President Speech Highlights: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government for securing a third term saying people have expressed their faith in the government. She also congratulated that MPs on being elected and the election commission for conduction of the world's largest democratic exercise. She also highlighted the record breaking voter turnout in the Kashmir valley.
Addressing the joint session of the Parliament, the President said: "I congratulate all the newly-elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha. You all have come here by winning the trust of country's voters. Very few get this opportunity to serve the nation and the people. I have full faith that you would fulfill your duties with a feeling of nation first."
Speaking on the Budget that the Centre will soon table, the President said it will be an "effective document" of the government's "far-reaching policies and futuristic vision".
She remarked that in 10 years, India rose from the 11th position to become the 5th largest economy. "Despite a pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world, India has been able to achieve this growth rate. This became possible due to the reforms and decisions taken in national interest in the last 10 years," she said.
"My Government is working towards making India the 3rd largest economy in the world," she added.
President Murmu noted that the government has provided Rs 3.20 lakh crores to the farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. The government has also made a record increase in the MSP for Kharif crops, she said.
As the President spoke about government increasing budget allocation by over 4 times in the last 10 years for the northeast, the House echoed with slogans on Manipur referring to the ongoing ethnic violence. Government is working to make this region Strategic Gateway under Act East Policy, she said.
"My Government is working continuously to bring peace in the northeast. In last 10 years, several old issues have been resolved, several agreements have been made and phase-wise repealing of AFSPA is underway in areas with unrest after making rapid progress there...," Murmu said.
The President addressed the ongoing paper leak controversies and said that the government was committed to hold a fair investigation into such instances.
On giving citizenship to refugees under Citizenship Amendment Act, she hoped for a better future for such families. On the Vocational Campus in Nalanda University, she said that government is re-establishing the heritage and culture of India.
She also extended best wishes to the athletes who will be participating in the Paris Summer Olympics. "To take these achievements further ahead, Indian Olympic Association is preparing to host 2036 Olympics," she added.
President Murmu also touched the topic of Emergency saying its implementation was a direct attack on Constittution. "When it was imposed, there was an uproar in the entire country. But the country has shown victory over such Constitutional forces," she remarked.