Time now to focus on citizens' responsibilities: PM Modi on Constitution Day

In his address to a joint sitting of Parliament to mark the Constitution Day, he said a special aspect of the Indian Constitution is that it highlights both the rights and duties of citizens.
President Ramanth Kovind, Vice-President Venkiah naidu, PM Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrives for the joint session of Parliament on Constitution Day during the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo |Shekhar Yadav/
President Ramanth Kovind, Vice-President Venkiah naidu, PM Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrives for the joint session of Parliament on Constitution Day during the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo |Shekhar Yadav/

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chose the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution to emphasise on people's duties, saying their rights were stressed upon earlier but time has now come to focus on citizens' responsibilities as well.

In his address to a joint sitting of Parliament to mark the Constitution Day, he said a special aspect of the Indian Constitution is that it highlights both the rights and duties of citizens.

"Let us think about how we can fulfil duties enshrined in our Constitution," Modi said.

Opposition parties boycotted the event to protest political developments in Maharashtra following the governor's decision to swear in BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as the state's chief minister.

Speaking to lawmakers in Parliament's Central Hall, where the Constitution was adopted, Modi said there had been an emphasis on people's rights in the last many years as a vast number of people felt deprived of equality and justice.

The demand of the present time is that society should deliberate on its duties and responsibilities as well, he said and asserted, "We cannot preserve our rights without fulfilling our responsibilities".

Noting that the Constitution begins with "we the people of India", he said people are its strength, inspiration and aim.

"Our effort should be to ensure focus on our duties in our conversations and meetings," he said at the joint sitting which was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu besides members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, he said the Father of the Nation had understood the fine balance between rights and duties and added, "As proud citizens of India, let us think about how our actions will make our nation even stronger".

Paying tributes to Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of Constitution, the prime minister said he would be happy to see that India has strengthened and empowered its democracy in the last 70 years.

The Constitution, Modi said, can be simplified in two mantras as "dignity for Indian" and "unity for India" Modi said November 26 is a happy occasion as India celebrates Constitution Day but it also is a sad reminder of the Mumbai terror attacks, which had taken place on this day in 2008.

He paid tributes to those killed in the terror attacks.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday, while addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, said all three organs of the state, persons holding constitutional posts, members of civil society and citizens should abide by "constitutional morality".

Kovind also said B R Ambedkar, while underlining the importance of constitutional morality, had emphasised that its essence was to regard the Constitution as supreme and to follow constitutionally-mandated procedures.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the need to keep the country above creed and quoted B R Ambedkar to say if the contrary is done, then the country's independence will be put in jeopardy.

He also said lawmakers should resolve to spread awareness among citizens about their Fundamental Duties.

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