New Delhi: In an address to the nation on the eve of the 70th Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind referred to the crucial Lok Sabha elections ahead and asked the people to exercise their democratic rights in forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Observing that an election is not just a political exercise, Kovind said it is a collective call to wisdom and a collective call to action, adding the ideas and idealism of our democracy will come into force to elect the 17th Lok Sabha. He also spoke about the achievements of the Modi government. He said there is abundance of food grains in the country, LPG (cooking gas) is easily available and it is easy to open a bank account or get a passport. Kovind will get yet another opportunity six days later on January 31 to elaborate more on the government’s achievements in his televised address to the joint session of Parliament. Nor did the President forget to mention the latest 10% reservation assured to the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the upper castes. “The recent constitutional amendment to provide special facilities for talented children from poorer families is another step to an India of our dreams – and of Gandhiji’s dreams,” he said.
The President also stressed that all citizens have equal rights on the resources of this country irrespective of their community and religion. He said the best indicator of social change in India is change towards gender equity and towards providing equal opportunities, under conditions of equality, to every girl child and every woman. “…Young women in our country are moving ahead in every field – from academics to the creative arts, from sports to the armed forces. There is no stopping and no hesitation in this process. It is the route to India’s future,” he added. The President said the country was at the doorstep of eliminating extreme poverty for the first time in memory and several people friendly programmes including equitable healthcare have begun to be rolled out. Road, water, rail and air connectivity has improved. “India has been united and integrated – now it is being networked,” he said. This is his second Republic Day eve address since assuming office in July 2017. The address comes a day ahead of the Republic Day Parade celebrations at the Rajpath in New Delhi. Ahead of the celebrations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, this year’s chief guest of this Republic Day parade, has arrived in New Delhi.
