New Delhi (NVI): In a customary speech delivered ahead of the commencement of the Budget session, President Ram Nath Kovind today strongly condemned the Republic Day violence in the national capital and said it is unfortunate that the national flag and a holy day like Republic Day were insulted.
In his address to the Joint Sitting of Parliament, the President spoke about the violence on Republic Day and stated, “The Constitution provides us Freedom of Expression but also mandates us to follow the law and rules.”
On January 26, thousands of agitating farmers broke barriers during their tractor parade, to storm the national capital, prompting police to use force and tear gas shells against them.
The farmers, protesting over the farm bills, entered Red Fort in Delhi and hoisted their own flag there.
“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 govt has provided new facilities and rights to farmers” the President stated.
“Small and marginal farmers are also a priority for the government. To support such farmers in their small expenses, around Rs 1,13,000 crore have been transferred directly to their accounts under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi,” he informed.
Meanwhile, 18 opposition parties have announced their decision to boycott the President’s address to a joint sitting of both houses today, in solidarity with the farmers agitating against the three contentious farm laws.
President Kovind also paid tributes to late President Pranab Mukherjee and to those who succumbed due to the virus.
“In this fight against the pandemic, we lost many citizens. Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in this Covid-19 period. Six MPs left us untimely due to Covid. I pay my tributes to all of them,” he said.
He also lauded India for its massive Covid-19 vaccination drive.
“It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination programme in the world. Both vaccines of this programme are made in India. In this crisis, India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind and provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations,” President Kovind said.
-CHK
