Anticipating a stormy Budget session of Parliament, President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday exhorted all MPs to discharge their responsibility in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation.
Addressing the joint sitting of both Houses, President Mukherjee said, “Democratic temper calls for debate and discussion, and not disruption or obstruction. Aa No Bhadra Kratvo Yantu Viswataha — let noble thoughts come from all directions — should be the spirit behind debate in this temple of democracy. Being a member of this great institution bestows great honour as well as important responsibilities.”
Also perhaps reflecting the raging debate on what constitutes nationalism and sedition after the events at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr. Mukherjee told the MPs that “we owe a great debt to our freedom fighters.”
“It is time to repay that debt, by building the country that they envisioned and fought for. In the words of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, ‘Nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race, Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram,’ let us embrace those ideals as we stake our claim on the future,” he said.
President spotlights welfare programmes
In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, President Pranab Mukherjee dwelt on the government’s programmes, especially those aimed at financial inclusion and the agricultural sector, including the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana.
“My government has recently launched the farmer-friendly Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, with the biggest-ever government’s contribution to crop insurance, and with the lowest-ever premium rates for farmers. It has many firsts to its credit like national coverage of post-harvest losses due to inundation and unseasonal rains, no capping on subsidy and use of technology for early and accurate settlement of claims. Assistance to farmers affected by natural calamities has been increased by 50 per cent and eligibility norms have been relaxed,” he said.
The President said amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act to make it more stringent were on the anvil.
“While on the one hand, my government has taken measures to eliminate the scope for corruption, on the other, it has been unsparing in punishing those who are found guilty of corruption. Stringent amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act are also on the anvil to address the perceived gaps in the anti-corruption law,” he said.
