President Droupadi Murmu lists Ram Temple, Article 370 abrogation as govt’s achievements
New Delhi, January 31
The Budget session of Parliament on Wednesday began with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In her first address to the joint sitting in the new Parliament building, the President underlined the achievements of the Central government in the last 10 years.
Disappointing: Cong
- Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled expectations from the President’s speech
- The Congress criticised the President’s failure to address promises made by PM Modi during the 2014 and 2019 elections, such as the return of black money, job creation, and doubling farmers’ income
In a special mention of the Ram Temple, the President said the centuries-old desire to build the temple in Ayodhya has been fulfilled. She went on to add that the Indian economy was moving in the right direction owing to reforms unveiled by the government.
Both Houses will resume on Thursday, when the Interim Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Asserting that a nation’s rapid advancement hinges on surmounting historical challenges while dedicating maximum effort to shape the future, Murmu underscored the fruition of longstanding endeavours.
She said a country could progress at a fast pace only when it defeats the challenges of the past and puts maximum energy into building the future.
Addressing the past apprehensions surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Murmu remarked that they now belong to the annals of history.
She also said the Indian economy was among the fragile five in 2014, but due to far-sighted reforms, it is now among the topmost growing economies of the world. She also congratulated the government for the passage of the women’s reservation Bill.
Referring to a Niti Aayog report, Murmu said in the last 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty.
In a reference to India’s growing self-reliance, the President said “Made in India” defence equipment are a pride of the nation.
“Despite global crises, my government has kept inflation under control and it did not allow the burden on the common man to increase,” she said in her more than 90-minute speech.
Earlier, the President arrived in a buggy to the new Parliament building and was accompanied inside the Lok Sabha chamber with a marshal carrying the Sengol.
