‘An absolue moment of pride’: Chirag Paswan on President Murmu’s speech

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan hailed President Draupadi Murmu’s maiden address at a joint sitting of parliament on Tuesday as “inspirational” and  “an absolute moment of pride”. Murmu is the first tribal President of India.

Speaking to The New Indian after attending the joint sitting of both the Houses, Paswan said,  “When you see someone who comes from a background like this reaching such heights, definitely it was a moment of pride.”

Talking about what he liked about the speech, the Jamui MP said, “The pointers she highlighted specially for the women of the country, like what all the government is doing for women of our country were very pertinent. And that comparison between between ancient India and the modern India, the digital India. That comparison was beautiful. How we are holding on to our culture and tradition; being grounded yet modern. So that comparison was beautiful. As I said, someone reaching this height, it is a matter of pride and something get inspired from.”

Addressing the parliament for the first time, President Murmu said a stable government at the Centre helped India in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and the situations arising out of it.

“Today, through this session, I express my gratitude to the people of the country for electing a stable government for two consecutive terms. My decisive government has always kept the country’s interest paramount and shown the will-power to completely transform the policies and strategies when required,” she said.

Evoking surgical strikes against Pakistan, the government’s “firm crackdown on terrorism”, abrogation of Article 370, and criminalisation of triple talaq, President Murmu said that the Modi government has been recognised as a “decisive government”.

She also said that India gave a befitting response to every misadventure from Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“The stable and decisive government has enabled us to deal with the biggest calamity in 100 years and the situation that arose thereafter,” the President told parliamentarians.

“Wherever in the world, there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,” she added.

The President also said that Indians aim to build a nation, which not only embraces its glorious past but also encompasses every golden aspect of modernity by 2024.

“We have to build a Bharat, which is self-reliant and also able to fulfil its humanitarian obligations, a Bharat which has no poverty and where the middle class is also prosperous, a Bharat whose youth and women power will be at the forefront to give direction to the society and the nation, and whose youth are well ahead of time.”

She said, When the country actualises this reality in 2047, it will certainly observe and assess the foundation of its grand construction. At that time, these initial moments of the Azadi ka Amrit Kaal will be viewed from a different perspective. Therefore, this time and this period of ‘Amrit Kaal’ has become all the more significant.”

Highlighting the Modi government’s guiding principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, President Murmu said that Indian citizens have witnessed many positive changes for the first time.

“The biggest change is that today every Indian’s confidence is at its peak and the world’s outlook towards India has changed. India which once looked at others for solutions to most of its problems, is today emerging as a provider of solutions for the issues faced by the world,” she underscored.