Modern infra being built at LAC in Ladakh, other parts
Leh, Jan 31: Be it terrorism or expansionism, the Indian security forces are giving a befitting response, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday, an apparent reference to Pakistan and China, even as she asserted that the Modi government’s efforts to strengthen internal security are visible to everyone.
Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of Budget session, Murmu also said there is a sense of security in Jammu and Kashmir and there has been a significant reduction in the incidents of separatism in the Northeast.
The president said that the doubts regarding the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir are now history and there is a sense of security in the region today. The earlier deserted look of marketplaces due to strike has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of crowded markets, she said.
Asserting that India has emerged as a prominent voice against terrorism in the world, Murmu said that the armed forces were giving a befitting reply to terrorism and expansionism, an apparent reference to Pakistan and China, noting the modern infrastructure being built in Ladakh and other areas, along the Line of Actual Control with China.
The India-China border standoff on China’s claim over territories of India in Ladakh is yet to be resolved despite the two sides holding multiple meetings since April 2020. Twenty Indian Army soldiers were killed in a clash with China’s PLA at Galwan in Ladakh on June 15, 2020.
In her 75-minute address to the members of both Houses of Parliament assembled in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building, Murmu also said the centuries-old desire to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya has now become reality as she listed the achievements of the Modi government over the past 10 years.
In her maiden address in the new Parliament building, the President listed out the economic reforms undertaken by the government that has transformed India from the group of “fragile five” to the “top five” economies in the world.
Murmu said the government’s successful hosting of the G-20 summit had strengthened India’s global standing and noted that Jammu and Kashmir, and the northeastern states hosted some international meetings of the grouping for the first time.
“This is the time for India to script the future for the coming centuries. Our ancestors have bequeathed us a legacy spanning thousands of years. Even today, we remember with pride the exceptional achievements of our ancestors. Today’s generation should also build a lasting legacy that will be remembered for centuries,” she said.
The Lok Sabha chamber reverberated with applause and thumping of desks when the President spoke about the building of Ram temple in Ayodhya, which is witnessing pilgrims in large numbers.
“Over the past 10 years, India has witnessed several such tasks being accomplished in the national interest, for which the people of the country were waiting for decades. For centuries, there was an aspiration to construct the Ram Mandir. Today it is a reality,” Murmu said.
The President said within five days of the opening of the temple, 13 lakh devotees had visited Ayodhya Dham. She termed the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22 as an “epochal moment”.
“There were doubts regarding the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Those are now history. This Parliament also enacted a strict law against ‘Triple Talaq’,” the President said.
Murmu touched on issues ranging from insurgency to inflation and said a country can progress at a fast pace only when it defeats the challenges of the past and puts maximum energy into building the future.
She asserted that the armed forces were giving a befitting reply to terrorism and expansionism and India has emerged as a prominent voice against terrorism in the world.
“Today my government is building modern infrastructure along the entire border. This work should have been done long ago on a priority basis. Be it terrorism or expansionism, our forces today are giving a befitting response,” Murmu said.
The President said the tangible results of the government’s efforts to strengthen internal security were visible.
“There is a sense of 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,” Murmu said.
The President said there has been significant reduction in the incidents of separatism in the northeast and many organisations have taken steps towards permanent peace.
“Naxal affected areas have shrunk and there has been a steep decline in Naxal violence,” Murmu said.
The government, she said, believed the grand edifice of a developed India will stand on the four strong pillars of youth power, women power, farmers and the poor.
After Murmu’s speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said, “The Budget Session began with Rashtrapati Ji’s extensive and insightful address highlighting the collective strength of 140 crore Indians, seen in a series of feats our nation has achieved. The Address also highlighted the vision of further developing India in the coming years.”
In her address, the President highlighted the government’s achievements over the last five years, including India’s moon landing and the country’s performance in the Asian Games.
“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,” she said.
Murmu also praised the government for defence production crossing the Rs 1 lakh crore-mark and said that ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ have become the strengths of the nation’s development journey.
Murmu said the government is giving a lot of focus to green energy and highlighted that renewable energy capacity has more than doubled to 188GW and solar capacity has jumped 26 times.
This assumes significance in view of India’s ambitious energy transition programme of net zero by 2070 and target of having 500GW of renewable energy by 2030. India is also aiming to have 50 per cent non-fossil fuel based power generation capacity by 2030.
Murmu said, “Today world over, there is a special demand for products which are environment friendly.
That is why my government is emphasizing on Zero Effect Zero Defect. We are now giving a lot of focus to green energy.”
She informed the Members of Parliament that in 10 years, non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity has increased from 81 Gigawatt to 188 Gigawatt.
“During this period, solar power capacity has increased by 26 times. Similarly, wind power capacity has doubled. We are placed at fourth position in the world in terms of renewable energy installed capacity.
We are ranked fourth in wind power capacity. We are at fifth position in solar power capacity,” she added.
According to the Central Electricity Authority data, India has solar energy installed generation capacity of over 73 GW as per latest report for December 2023.
Similarly the data showed that wind energy capacity in the country stood at about 45GW while large hydro (over 25MW capacity each) is 47GW. The biomass power/cogen capacity about 10GW and small hydro (upto 25MW) is around 5GW, while the waste to energy capacity stood at 583MW.
She also told the MPs that work is also being done at a very fast pace in the field of nuclear energy.
“My government has approved 10 new nuclear power plants. India is also progressing at a fast pace in the field of Hydrogen energy. So far, we have started two projects in Ladakh and Daman-Diu,” she added.
The President also lauded the members of the Parliament for the smooth passage of the women’s reservation bill.
She also hailed the efforts of the government for keeping inflation under control despite global crises, especially during the Covid pandemic and wars.
“Despite such global crises, my government has managed to keep inflation in the country under control, preventing additional burden on our countrymen.
“In the 10 years prior to 2014, the average inflation rate was over 8 per cent. However, the average inflation rate has been maintained at 5 per cent in the last decade. My government’s endeavour has been to increase savings in the hands of ordinary citizens,” Murmu said.
The President said her government has taken several measures to assist women such as bank loans and programmes to make credit available to them.
“Our government has granted permanent commission to women for the first time in the Armed Forces. For the first time, women cadets have been given admission in Sainik Schools and National Defence Academy. Today, women are also fighter pilots and are also commanding naval ships for the first time,” Murmu said.
The efforts of the government in the field of economy also received praise from the President as she pointed out how the Indian economy was now moving in the right direction and at the right pace due to several reforms undertaken in the last 10 years.
“Amidst serious global crises, India emerged as the fastest-growing major economy, consistently maintaining a growth rate of over 7.5 per cent for two consecutive quarters,” she said.
Those seated in the front rows included Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, ministers Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress’ parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi.
