President Draupadi Murmu spoke at the joint session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, outlining the priorities of the newly elected government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks Murmu's first address in a joint parliamentary meeting since the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha. The inaugural session of the new Lok Sabha commenced last Monday.
Additionally, the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to begin on June 27. In her speech, the President strongly criticized the Emergency period, emphasizing that India is approaching its 75th year as a republic in the upcoming months. She highlighted the resilience of the Indian Constitution against various challenges over the decades, citing the Emergency of June 25, 1975, as a direct assault on constitutional principles.
The President underscored the government's commitment to not merely viewing the Constitution as a governance tool but integrating it into the collective consciousness. To this end, the government has introduced the celebration of Constitution Day on November 26. The President noted the successful implementation of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370.
Extending congratulations to the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha, the President commended their electoral victory and entrusted them with the responsibility of serving the nation with a priority on national interests. She expressed confidence that the parliamentarians would act as a conduit to fulfill the aspirations of the 1.4 billion citizens.
The President highlighted the significance of the recent Lok Sabha elections, noting the enthusiastic participation of 640 million voters, including a substantial turnout of women. She praised the record-breaking voter engagement in the Kashmir Valley. Acknowledging the global discourse on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the President emphasized the establishment of a stable majority government in India for the third consecutive term, a historic development after six decades.
Against the backdrop of heightened public expectations, the government aims to foster healthy competition among states to attract global investments, promoting cooperative federalism as a cornerstone of development. The President underscored the government's focus on fostering a competitive economy encompassing manufacturing, services, and agriculture, with initiatives such as the PLI scheme and ease of doing business driving investment and employment growth.
She highlighted the significant financial support extended to farmers through schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and the enhanced MSP for Kharif crops. Furthermore, the President emphasized India's potential in meeting the surging global demand for organic products, underscoring efforts to strengthen the natural farming supply chain. She underscored India's proactive role in offering solutions to global challenges, ranging from climate change to sustainable agriculture.
Looking ahead, the President emphasized the shift towards a green economy, with increased investments in green industries and initiatives promoting green energy and mobility. She highlighted India's position as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, with a substantial expansion in airline routes benefiting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
The President also lauded the government's accelerated pace in constructing national highways, enhancing connectivity and infrastructure development across rural areas.
