NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu, in her address on the eve of Republic Day on Thursday, defined the Women’s Reservation Bill as ‘historic’ and a revolutionary tool for women’s empowerment. The President also stated that the Ram temple would be marked in history as India’s continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage.
Lauding India’s progress on the ideal of gender equality, she said, “We have also progressed further towards the ideal of gender equality, as the Parliament passed the historic Women’s Reservation Bill. I believe the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will prove to be a revolutionary tool for women’s empowerment and will go a long way in improving our governance process.”
Outlining the impact of this bill, she mentioned that when the participation of more and more women in matters of collective importance aligns with the needs of the masses, the country will shine further.
Speaking about the Ram temple, the President said that it will be marked in history as “India’s continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage” and as a grand edifice, expressing not only people’s faith but also their enormous trust in the judicial process. “The construction of the temple commenced after due judicial process and the decision of the highest court of the land. Now it stands as a grand edifice, representing not only people’s faith but also a testament to their enormous trust in the judicial process,” she said.
The President touched upon various issues, including the welfare schemes initiated by the government, saying that it will be a proud day for the nation when homelessness “is a rarity.” She also spoke about the conflicts that have emerged in several parts of the world and emphasized the need to find a way out through reason.
“When each of the two conflicting sides believes it is right and the other is wrong, the way out should be found through reason. Unfortunately, instead of reason, fears and prejudices have fuelled passions, leading to relentless violence. There have been a series of largescale humanitarian tragedies and we feel aggrieved over human sufferings,” she said.
She wished for peace in regions in conflict around the world, citing the relevance of the teachings of Vardhaman Mahavir, Samarat Ashoka, and Mahatma Gandhi.
On various achievements of the country, she said that the G20 Summit hosted by India provided lessons for all in making citizens participants in strategic and diplomatic matters that will ultimately shape their own future. “The G20 Summit boosted India’s emergence as the voice of the Global South, adding a necessary element to the international discourse,” she said, adding that the country’s economy is moving ahead with confidence.
She also spoke about the people’s duty towards the nation as it moves towards becoming a developed nation. “What they want is equality of opportunity. What they want is not the same old rhetoric of equality, but the realisation of our cherished ideal of equality,” Murmu said.
On global conflicts
President Droupadi Murmu addressed global conflicts, emphasizing the importance of resolving them through reason rather than fear and prejudice. “When each of the two conflicting sides believes that it is right and the other is wrong, the way out should be found in the light of reason. Unfortunately, instead of reason, fears and prejudices have fuelled passions, leading to relentless violence. There have been a series of humanitarian tragedies on a large scale, and we feel aggrieved over the human suffering,” she said. Drawing inspiration from Vardhaman Mahavir, Samrat Ashoka, and Mahatma Gandhi, she called for peaceful conflict resolution.