NEW DELHI, Jan 29: The president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday condemned the violence in Delhi on the Republic Day and highly praised the valour and courage with which the Indian armed forced repulsed the Chinese aggression on the Ladakh border while paying rich tributes to the 20 soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice at Galwan valley in defending the country’s sovereignty.
Addressing the joint session of Parliament on the first day of the budget session, the president who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, specifically mentioned the clash between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan Valley.
He deplored China’s attempt to grab some Indian territory by trying to unilaterally change the Line of Actual Control when the country and the world were concentrating to fight against the Corona pandemic. “During the Coronavirus pandemic, when the country was grappling with crisis, attempts were made to challenge the country’s capability at the border. Efforts were made to disrupt the peace at LAC in utter disregard of bilateral relations and agreements,” Kovind said.
India’s armed forces responded with courage to “machinations” to disrupt peace along the Line of Actual Control that disregarded bilateral agreements and foiled all efforts to alter the status quo on the border,” the President said referring to the border standoff with China.
“However, our security forces not only responded to these machinations with promptitude, force and courage, but also foiled all attempts to change the status quo at the border.”
The “restraint, valour and courage” of India’s soldiers “deserve utmost praise”, Kovind said, pointing out that 20 soldiers “made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives defending the country at Galwan Valley” in June 2020. “Every citizen is deeply indebted to these martyrs,” he added.
Kovind said the government is “vigilant and fully committed to safeguard the interests of the country”, and additional forces have been deployed at the LAC to protect India’s sovereignty.
The President’s remarks came a day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar outlined eight principles, including adhering to agreements on the border issue and the unacceptability of any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo at the LAC, to repair India-China ties that were “profoundly disturbed” by the events in Ladakh sector last year.
Condemning the violence on Republic Day in the national capital by a group of agitating farmers, the President said the incidents on January 26 were very “unfortunate”.
“The national flag and a holy day like Republic Day were insulted in the past few days. The Constitution that provides us Freedom of Expression, is the same Constitution that teaches us that law and rules have to be followed seriously,” Kovind said.
Trying to allay the fear of farmers over the three new farm laws, the President claimed that the new reforms were actually beneficial for the farmers. “My government would like to clarify that the rights and facilities that were available before the formation of the three farm laws have not been cut short, in fact with these new agricultural reforms the government has provided new facilities and rights to farmers,” said Kovind, adding that the Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of the new farm laws and the government would respect its decision.
Lauding the government’s effort in fighting against the Corona pandemic, Kovind said the “timely decision” taken saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. “I am satisfied that the timely decision taken by my Government saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. Today the number of new COVID cases is going down rapidly. The number of recoveries is very high.”
He also appreciated the government’s vaccination drive for Covid-19 saying the program was a matter of pride for India.
“It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination program in the world. Both vaccines of this program are made in India. In this crisis India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind & provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations,” the President said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
