President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday addressing a joint session of both Houses of Parliament listed the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government, which included the construction of the new Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, among others.
Speaking at the new Parliament for the first time at the start of the Budget Session, the President said that the construction of the new Parliament building is the beginning of “Amrit Kaal”.
“This (new Parliament building) has the fragrance of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat’…This also has the resolve to honour democratic and parliamentary traditions. Besides this, it also has the resolve to build new traditions of the new India of the 21st century. I am confident that there will be meaningful conversation on policies, in this new building,” the President said.
She also said that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was a “dream” of people for centuries, and that has been fulfilled by the government.
“(People were) hopeful of constructing Ram Temple for centuries and that dream has been fulfilled now. People of the nation also wanted the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Now, Article 370 is also history,” she said.
She also hailed the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, dubbed as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, during her address, and also said that the government had made “strict law against triple talaq”.
Listing the accomplishments that India achieved in 2023, President Murmu said that the country became the “fastest growing economy”, and it also became the first nation in the world to reach the south pole of the Moon.
“The successful G20 Summit hosted by India strengthened the role of India in the world. India won more than 100 medals in Asian Games. India also got the Atal Tunnel,” she said.
The achievements, the President said, are an extension of the practices of the last 10 years.
She said that “Garibi Hatao” was a slogan that has been a part of us for a long time, and for the time, we see poverty being alleviated on a large scale.
The President at the new Parliament House in a buggy to deliver her address, and entered the House with the ‘sengol’ being carried in front of her. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar followed her.