NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday remarked that the biggest change that has happened today is that the confidence of every Indian is on top, adding that the world’s view towards India has changed.
The President in her first address to the joint sitting of Parliament as the Budget session began urged people to put in their best to build in the next 25 years a developed India connected to its past glory and containing every golden chapter of modernity.
She said ‘Amrit Kaal’, described by the government as the 25-year period culminating in the centenary of India’s independence, is the time to build an India which is ‘aatmanirbhar’ (self reliant) and also fulfils its humanitarian obligations.
“From the surgical strikes to the tough crackdown on terrorism, from the LoC to the LAC, from the abrogation of Article 370 to the triple talaq, my government has been recognised as a decisive government,” President Murmu said.
Under the nearly nine years of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, the country has seen many positive changes, she said, adding that the biggest change is that the self-confidence of every Indian is at its peak and the world has changed the way it looks at India.
While India used to depend on others to solve its problems, it is now working to solve global problems, Murmu, India’s first tribal president, said.
She cited the expansion of digital network and the crackdown on corruption during the Modi government’s tenure. “India now has a government which is stable, fearless and decisive and which works to fulfil big dreams. It has a government which respects honesty and works to solve the poor’s problems and empower them permanently,” she said.
Hailing the government’s various schemes for women, President Murmu said, “We are seeing the success of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign; for the first time in India, the number of women is more than men: Prez Murmu.”
Murmu further went on to highlight the ease that technology has provided in governance. “Earlier there was a long wait for a tax refund. Today, the refund is received within a few days of filing the ITR. Today, along with transparency, the dignity of the taxpayers is also being ensured through GST,” she said citing the e-marketplace and income tax refunds, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme as examples.
“Over the years, in the form of DBT, in the form of Digital India, the country has prepared a permanent and transparent system,” she added.
India’s budget will be ray of hope for world: PM Modi
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the media ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, said that recognised voices in the world of economy were bringing positive messages from all sides.
The prime minister said the Budget, to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, will strive to fulfil people’s hopes, aspirations, and also boost the hopes with which the world is looking at India.
“In today’s global circumstances, not only India but the entire world is looking at India’s Budget. Amid the unstable global economic situation, India’s Budget will attempt to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common citizens, the ray of hope being seen by the world glows brighter – for this, I firmly believe that Nirmala Sitharaman will make all efforts to meet those aspirations,” the PM said.
He also noted that President Droupadi Murmu was delivering her maiden address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session.
The President’s speech is the pride of the Constitution of India, the pride of India’s parliamentary system, and also an opportunity to respect women and the great tribal traditions of the country, Modi said.
The Budget Session of the Parliament will take place in 27 sittings till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. The first part of the session will conclude on February 13. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session and will conclude on April 6.
