On the eve of the 75th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on Thursday. She touched upon the consecration of Ram Temple, ISRO's success, the resilience of the Indian economy, gender equality, and the G20 presidency among other issues.
She said that India is witnessing an epochal transformation in the early years of Amrit Kaal, the period leading to the centenary anniversary of Indian independence.
Emphasising the robustness of the Indian economy, the President said that India’s GDP has remained the highest among major economies and will continue on the path of "extraordinary performance” in 2024 and beyond.
The successful hosting of the G20 Summit in New Delhi under India’s presidency was an unprecedented achievement, commented President. Murmu said, “ The ideas and inputs travelled not downwards from the top but upwards from the bottom.”
She further added, “The G20 Summit also boosted India’s emergence as the voice of the Global South, adding a necessary element to the international discourse.”
Speaking about the recently consecrated idol Ram in Ayodhya, Murmu said that the Ram Temple is a befitting expression of people’s faith and is also a testament to people’s trust in the judicial process. She says, “When this event will be seen in the wider perspective, the future historians will consider it a landmark in India’s continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage.”
She also pointed out the nation’s success in various space projects including Chandrayaan-3 and the Aditya L1 mission, as India is preparing for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight programme.
“The amount of enthusiasm we see in the country for the ISRO’s initiatives is heartening. New achievements in this area have fired the imagination of the young generation. More children, I am sure, will become interested in science and cultivate a scientific temper,” added Murmu.
The President also reckons that India moved further towards gender equality by passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, or the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. She said, “When more women will involved in matters of collective importance, our administrative priorities will be more in tune with the needs of the masses.”
Speaking about the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, who played a crucial role in the welfare of backward classes, President Murmu paid a tribute to him on his centenary birth anniversary.
Praising the country’s sportspersons, Murmu said, “In the Asian Games held last year, we made history with a record-breaking tally of 107 medals, and we won 111 medals in the Asian Para Games.”
“I am sure that our sportspersons, who are infused with this new confidence, will deliver an improved performance in the upcoming Paris Olympics,” she added.
