New Delhi [India]: President Droupadi Murmu addressing the nation after being sworn in as the 15 th President of India stated that she was the first President to be born in independent India and was honoured to take charge at a time when the country is completing 75 years if Independence.
In her first address to the country as President, Murmu, the first tribal and second woman to hold the country’s highest constitutional office said her elevation to the post is not only her own achievement but that of every poor of the country and is a reflection of the confidence of crores of Indians.
“Johar! Namaskar! I humbly greet all my fellow citizens from this sacred Parliament, a symbol of the hopes, aspirations and rights of all the citizens of India. Your affection, trust and support will be my greatest strength in discharging my functions and responsibilities,” she said.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the MPs and all the members of the Legislative Assembly for being elected to the highest constitutional post of India. Your vote is an expression of the faith of crores of citizens of the country,” Murmu said.
The 64-year-old former Jharkhand Governor was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramanna in the Central Hall of Parliament today. She succeeds Ram Nath Kovind, whose five-year-term ended on July 24.
“Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India,” Murmu stated in her address.
“It is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India,” she added.
She also said that the country needs to speed up the efforts to meet the expectations that our freedom fighters had with the citizens of independent India.
Murmu said that the country has elected her as the President at a crucial time when India is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
“A few days from today, the country will complete 75 years of its independence. It is also a coincidence that my political career started when the country was celebrating its 50th year of independence and today in the 75th year of independence, I have got this new responsibility. It is my great privilege to be given this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years,” said the President.
She further said, “I am the first President of the country who was born in independent India. We have to work at a fast pace in this Amritkal to fulfil the expectations that our freedom fighters had made from us citizens of independent India. In these 25 years, the path to the accomplishment of Amritkal will proceed on two tracks – everyone’s effort and everyone’s duty.”
The president further extended wishes to the Indian Army of the country to all the citizens of the country on Kargil Vijay Diwas in advance.
“Tomorrow i.e. 26th July is also Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day is a symbol of both the bravery and restraint of the Indian armies. Today, I extend my best wishes to the Army of the country and to all the citizens of the country on Kargil Vijay Diwas in advance,” she said.
Emphasizing on her journey from a small village to the top position in the country, she said, “I started my life journey from a small tribal village in Odisha. From the background I come from, it was like a dream for me to get elementary education. But despite many obstacles, my resolve remained strong and I became the first daughter of my village to go to college. I belong to the tribal society, and I have got the opportunity to become the President of India from the Ward Councilor. This is the greatness of India, the mother of democracy.”
She further said that is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India.
“Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. My election is proof that the poor in India can dream and make them come true. It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that those who have been deprived for centuries, who have been away from the benefits of development, those poor, downtrodden, backward and tribals are seeing their reflection in me,” she said.
Earlier Murmu was greeted with thunderous applause as she arrived at the Central Hall of the Parliament accompanied by outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind. She was welcomed by Vice President Venakaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and CJI NV Ramana.
Narinder Modi’s comments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described Droupadi Murmu taking over as India’s President as a “watershed moment” for the country, especially for the poor, marginalised and downtrodden.
The entire nation watched with pride as she took oath, PM Modi said, wishing her the best for a fruitful tenure. Murmu on Monday became India’s first tribal President.
PM Modi also extended best wishes to Mumru for a fruitful Presidential tenure.
“The entire nation watched with pride as Droupadi Murmu ji took oath as the President of India. Her assuming the Presidency is a watershed moment for India, especially for the poor, marginalised and downtrodden. I wish her the very best for a fruitful Presidential tenure,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
The Prime Minister hailed Murmu’s oath-taking speech and said she gave a message of hope and compassion.
“In her address after taking oath, President Droupadi Murmu ji gave a message of hope and compassion. She emphasised on India’s accomplishments and presented a futuristic vision of the path ahead at a time when India is marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he added.
PM Modi also tweeted several pictures from the presidential oath-ceremony.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana administered the oath of office of the President to Murmu in the Central Hall of Parliament.
The 64-year-old defeated opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha to become the first tribal and the second woman to hold the top constitutional post.
Murmu was escorted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the Central Hall of Parliament. (ANI)