New Delhi: The Indian armed forces are responding to terrorism and expansionism with ‘jaise ko taisa’ (tit for tat) policy, President Droupadi Murmu said Wednesday in her address to the joint session of both Houses on the commencement of the Budget session of Parliament, the last in the current tenure of Narendra Modi government.
“The government is building modern infrastructure on our borders. Whether it is terrorism or expansionism, our armed forces today are responding with a ‘tit for tat’ policy’. There is an atmosphere of safety and security in Jammu and Kashmir today. The earlier deserted look of marketplaces due to strike has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of crowded markets.
“There has been a significant reduction in the incidents of separatism in the North East. Many organisations have taken steps towards permanent peace. Naxal affected areas have shrunk and there has been a steep decline in Naxal violence,” the President said.
“Even in this era of global disputes and conflicts, my government has firmly placed India’s interests before the world. The scope of India’s foreign policy today has gone far beyond the constraints of the past. Today, India is a respected member of many global organisations. Today, India is a leading voice in the world against terrorism.”
“Today India responds strongly and takes initiatives for the humanity caught in crises. Wherever there is a crisis in the world today, India tries to respond promptly. My government has instilled new confidence in Indians working across the world. Wherever crisis occurred, we have evacuated every Indian safely through campaigns like Operation Ganga, Operation Kaveri, Vande Bharat,” the President said.
The Budget Session is scheduled to end on 9 February. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget on February 1.
Recounting the achievements of the Modi government, the President said that the construction of Ram Mandir was a dream for centuries which has been fulfilled by the government.
“The aspiration to build Ram Temple was there for centuries, but today it has become a reality. (People also) wanted the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Now, Article 370 is also history,” she said, amidst loud cheering from parliamentarians.
“In the period of civilisations, there come such milestones which decide the future of centuries. There have been many such stages in the history of India also. This year, on 22 January, the country witnessed a similar situation. After waiting for centuries, Ramlala has settled in his grand temple in Ayodhya.”
In the last 10 years, the President said, India has seen the completion of many such works in the national interest for which the people of the country were waiting for decades.
She further highlighted the government’s achievements over the last five years, including India’s moon landing and the country’s performance in the Asian Games.
Murmu said: “We all have heard the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’ since our childhood. Today, for the first time in our lives, we see poverty being alleviated on a large scale.
“According to the NITI Aayog, in the 10-year rule of my government, nearly 25 crore people have come out of poverty.”
Before the address by the President, the rituals of Sengol, a historic golden sceptre, were conducted in the House.The Sengol was installed in the House in her presence.
Hoping for a productive debate between the government and the Opposition during the two-week-long Budget session, President Murmu while starting her speech said the new Parliament building had the scent of ‘Shreshta Bharat’.
“My government believes that the grand edifice of a developed India will stand on four strong pillars — youth power, women power, farmers and the poor,” she said.
Murmu also praised the Modi government for its defence production crossing the Rs 1 lakh-crore mark. She further said that ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ have become the strengths of the country’s development journey.
The President also lauded the members of the Parliament for the smooth passage of the women’s reservation bill. “This Parliament has made a strict law against triple talaq,” she said.
She also hailed the efforts of the government for keeping inflation under control despite global crises, especially during the Covid pandemic and wars.
“In the past years, the world witnessed two major wars and faced a pandemic like coronavirus. Despite such global crises, my government kept inflation under control in the country and did not let the burden on common Indians increase…”
The efforts of the Modi government in the field of economy also received praise from the President as she pointed out how the Indian economy used to be among the fragile five but is now moving in the right direction and at the right pace due to several reforms undertaken in the last 10 years.
“Our banking system today has become one of the strongest in the world. Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat have become our strengths today. Mobile manufacturing has increased by over 5 per cent,” she said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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