Celebrating the eve of the 76th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu praised India’s early 20th-century freedom fighters for having brought the country together in a well-organized movement for independence. She credited iconic leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Babasaheb Ambedkar for helping India rediscover its democratic roots and values.
“Justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity are not merely modern ideals but deeply rooted in India’s civilizational heritage,” the President remarked, noting how skeptics of the Constitution’s resilience have been proven wrong over the past 75 years.
One of the key highlights of her address was her praise for the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill. President Murmu referred to it as a visionary reform that may reshape governance in the sense that it provides policy continuity, prevents the diversion of resources, and mitigates the financial burden that arises from the frequent election process, to carry out the same change in a framework of accountability.
President Droupadi Murmu gives speech on Republic Day
“The scope of reforms calls for audacious thinking,” she declared, highlighting the possible gains to be realized from simultaneous elections in strengthening governance and preventing policy gridlock. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also consistently promoted this concept and has stressed the havoc and cost incurred due to staggered elections.
However, the proposal has sparked heated debates. Retired President Ram Nath Kovind argued that concurrent elections were included in India’s early electoral history and elections to all offices were taking place at the same time until 1967 and are accordingly constitutional. On the other hand, the Congress party has been against the notion, describing it as anti-federal and contrary to the fundamental structure of the Constitution.
The President also emphasized how the colonial mentality is being removed by replacing archaic British-era legislation through the use of new legislations such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. She highlighted the government’s commitment to justice, especially in protecting women and children.
The President Murmu highlighted India’s ongoing economic prosperity, which has lifted millions out of poverty, provided employment, and enhanced farmers’ earnings. Inclusive welfare schemes for the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) have also been appreciated.
Closing her speech, she lauded the Constitution as a living document and recognized its inclusivity and the central, active, role played by women in the making of the Indian democracy.
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