NEW DELHI, Jan 31: In her maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, the President Droupadi Murmu said the “biggest change” in the nine years since the election of the Narendra Modi government was that “every Indian’s confidence is at its peak and the world’s outlook towards India has changed.”
The address, customary at the start of the Budget Session of parliament saw President Murmu lauding the Narendra Modi government, claiming that “India has a government which is stable, fearless, decisive and working with lofty ambitions”, a “government which respects the honest and works with speed and scale.”
“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. From surgical strike to a firm crackdown on terrorism, from a befitting response to every misadventure from LoC to LAC, from abrogation of Article 370 to Triple Talaq, my government has been recognized as a decisive government,” she said also lauding the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bharata Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) boycotted the address although Congress parliamentary leader, Sonia Gandhi was in attendance. BRS leader Keshava Rao said the boycott was to “bring attention” as a “democratic protest” against the “failures of the Narendra Modi government.”
Ms Murmu took pain to go into great details about government programmes stating that the programmes were conceived and run taking all sections of the society together. From the government’s flagship “Har Ghar Jal” (tap water connections to all households), to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (income support programme for farmers), to India receiving the presidentship of the G20 this year, President Murmu spoke in detail on all.
“My government has chosen the path of consolidating heritage and giving priority to development. On one side Ayodhya Dham is being developed and on the other side, a modern Parliament is being constructed. While the redevelopment of Kedarnath Dham and the development of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor and Mahakal Project are completed, simultaneously medical colleges are being made in every district,” President Murmu said to huge applause from the treasury benches.
A significant part of her speech was dedicated to government policies related to women’s empowerment. Quoting Kuntala Kumari Sabat, a poetess of Odia language about a century ago, President Murmu said in ‘Utkal Bharti’ the poetess declared about 100 years ago that the woman of the country is not inferior to anybody. “Basundhara-Tale Bharat-Ramani Nuhe Heen Nuhe Deen Amar Kirti Koti Yuge Kebhen Jagtun Nohib Leen. This she translates to- The woman of India is neither inferior nor humble compared to anyone on earth,” President Murmu stated.
Women empowerment has been at the core of all schemes introduced by my government. Today, we are seeing the success of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” she said. “For the first time in the country, number of women is more than men and the health of women has also improved more than before,” President Murmu said.
Most of the opposition parties, however, criticised the President’s address alleging that the speech was like the “first chapter” of the ruling BJP’s manifesto for 2024 and key issues related to price control, communal harmony and women were “missing.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said it was the “government’s statement that has come through the President” and there is nothing new in it. “If the government is claiming that the country has progressed so much, then why do the poor people of the country continue to suffer due to unemployment and high inflation,” he said and alleged that the schemes “renamed” by the Modi government are not reaching the poorest of the poor.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said while it was “convention” that the President’s address was “written” by the government of India, key issues were absent in her speech. “As is convention, President’s Address to both Houses of #Parliament is written by GoI. Any line in speech about controlling prices, creating jobs, strengthening (fiscal) federalism, promoting communal harmony, passing Women’s Reservation Bill? Oh and 2 miserly lines about the North East,” said Brien.
CPI MP Binoy Viswam alleged the empowerment of women, youths, Dalits and tribals was only on paper. “The historic Central Hall witnessed the President’s address, maybe for the last time. Everything related to freedom struggle and Constitution are being dumped. The address seems to be the first chapter of the ruling party manifesto for 2024. Words are lovely; truths are not..!” he said on Twitter.
“Pride of secularism is absent. Hindutva pride of RSS mould was the tone. Empowerment of women, youth, Tribes, Dalits only on paper. Environment and Subhash Bose mentioned. Nicobar is crying…,” the CPI MP said in a tweet.
The Budget session of Parliament which began on Tuesday will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. The session will be held in two parts with the first part concluding on February 13 and the second part from March 13 to April 6.
(Manas Dasgupta)