President Murmu: Self-confidence of every Indian peaked during Modi’s rule

President Droupadi Murmu, addressing the parliament on the opening of the Budget session on Tuesday (January 31) morning, urged people to build an aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) India in the next 25 years —termed Amrit Kaal by the government to describe the period culminating in the centenary of India’s independence.

She said India has a “fearless, decisive government today,” due to which “the self-confidence of every Indian is at its peak.” At the same time, she encouraged to people to put in their best in the next 25 years to build a developed India connected to its past glory and containing every golden chapter of modernity.

President Murmu said Amrit Kaal is the time to build an India that is not only aatmanirbhar but also fulfils its humanitarian obligations. “It will be an India with no poverty and a prosperous middle class and whose youth and women are at the vanguard of guiding the nation,” she said, amid frequent thumping of desks by lawmakers at the Central Hall of Parliament.

“World’s outlook towards India has changed”

Murmu, who is from Odisha, recited some lines from a poem by renowned Odia poetess and freedom fighter Kuntala Kumari Sabat. The lines roughly translate to: “The woman of India is neither inferior to nor weaker than anyone else. Her glory will not be forgotten for ages and will live on forever in the world.”

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The President lauded the Narendra Modi government for changing the way the world looks at India. “Under the nearly nine years of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, the country has seen many positive changes,” she said, adding that the “biggest change” was that “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,” President Murmu added.

“Stable, fearless, decisive govt”

In her debut address, President Murmu said the government has taken decisions in the country’s interest and showed the will to completely transform policies and strategies when required. “India now has a government which is stable, fearless, and decisive and which works to fulfil big dreams,” she said.

“From the surgical strikes to a firm crackdown on terrorism, from the LoC (Line of Control) to the LAC (Line of Actual Control), from the abrogation of Article 370 to triple talaq, my government has been recognised as a decisive government,” she added.

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According to her speech, the government respects honesty and works to solve the poor’s problems and empower them permanently. “People have been given basic amenities missing for decades, and modern infrastructure that society long aspired for is being built across the country,” she said while citing the expansion of digital network and the crackdown on corruption during the Modi government’s tenure.

“My government is clear — corruption is the biggest enemy of democracy and social justice. We ensured that the honest are respected. In previous years, action has been taken to end corruption,” said President Murmu.

She added that the government is “striving to get rid of every sign of slavery.” As example, she cited the change from Rajpath to Kartavya Path.

“President’s speech pride of Constitution”

Earlier in the morning, the president reached Parliament House in a ceremonial procession. Her cavalcade drove down Raisina Hills along with the horse-mounted President’s Bodyguards. She was received by Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and other dignitaries.

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PM Modi announced that Murmu would be delivering her first address before the joint sitting of parliament. “The President’s speech is the pride of the Constitution of India, the pride of India’s parliamentary system, and also an opportunity to respect women and the great tribal traditions of the country,” he said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce the Budget on Wednesday in the two-part session. The first part of the session ends on February 13. It will resume on March 13 and end on April 6.

(With agency inputs)