‘Constitution has fully come into force in J&K after 370 abrogation’
*Modernisation of armed forces essential for strong India
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 27: President Droupadi Murmu said today that the Constitution has fully come into force in Jammu and Kashmir where the conditions were different due to Article 370 as she mentioned record voter turnout in the Kashmir valley in the Parliamentary elections during past many decades.
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Addressing joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament after constitution of 18th Lok Sabha, the President made mention of good voting turnout in the Kashmir valley at the very beginning of her speech.
“A very heartening aspect of this election (just concluded Parliamentary polls) emerged from Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir Valley broke all records of voter turnout of many decades,” she said.
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Murmu said during last four decades, we had witnessed low voter turnout amidst shutdown and strikes in Kashmir.
“Enemies of India continued to spread false propaganda at global forums, projecting it as an opinion of Jammu and Kashmir. But this time, the Kashmir valley has given a befitting reply to every such element within the country and outside,” the President said.
As per the Election Commission data, Srinagar Parliamentary constituency recorded 38.49 percent voting turnout, Baramulla 59.1 percent and Anantnag-Rajouri seat 53 percent, which was highest in past many decades.
The President also expressed gratitude to the Election Commission of India on behalf of crores of Indians for conducting largest election in the work in which 64 crore voters performed their duty with enthusiasm and zeal.
Murmu said the Constitution now has fully come into force in Jammu and Kashmir where the conditions were different due to Article 370.
Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Central Government on August 5, 2019.
The President said the government has always given priority to the needs of the personnel in the armed forces.
“That is why after four decades, One Rank One Pension has been implemented. Under this, Rs 1,20,000 crore have been disbursed till date,” she said.
In the honour of our martyrs, she said, the Government has also established the National War Memorial at one end of Kartavya Path.
“These efforts are not only salutations from a grateful nation for its brave soldiers but also a source of constant inspiration for the ideal of Nation First,” she said
Murmu said modernisation of the armed forces is essential for a strong India and that reforms in the military should be a continuous process to ensure that it maintains “supremacy” during wars.
Listing steps to boost domestic defence production, she said the reforms undertaken in the sector have resulted in India now manufacturing defence equipment worth more than Rs one lakh crore.
Nearly 70 per cent of the total procurement of defence forces was sourced from domestic firms last year, she said.
The President said the BrahMos missile deal with the Philippines has strengthened India’s standing in the defence export sector.
“Modernisation of our armed forces is essential for a strong India. Reforms in our armed forces should be a continuous process so that our forces maintain their supremacy during wars,” she said.
“Guided by this, my Government has introduced many reforms in the defence sector in the last 10 years. Reforms like CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) have given new strength to our defence forces,” she said.
Murmu said the defence forces have decided not to import over 500 defence items. All these arms and defence related equipment are being procured only from Indian companies, she noted.
“It is due to such reforms that India is now manufacturing defence equipment worth more than Rs one lakh crore,” she added.
PTI adds: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday described the imposition of Emergency in 1975 as the “biggest and darkest chapter” of direct attack on the Constitution, and said the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces.
Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha, she said when the Constitution was being drafted, there were forces in the world who wished India to fail.
Even after the Constitution came into force, there were several attacks on the Constitution, she noted.
“Today is 27th June. The imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975 was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged. But the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the republic lie at the core of India,” she said.
She said her Government also does not consider the Constitution of India “as just a medium of governance; rather we are making efforts to ensure that our Constitution becomes a part of public consciousness”.
“With this very objective in mind, my Government has started celebrating November 26 as Constitution Day,” Murmu noted.
Many historic steps and major economic decisions will be taken in the upcoming budget, President Droupadi Murmu said.
The budget that will be presented by the Government in the next Parliament session will be a document of its futuristic vision, the President said.
“The budget will have major economic and social decisions and many historic steps will be taken. The speed of reforms will be increased to fulfil the aspirations of people,” she said.
Murmu further said, “India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy. There has been an average 8 per cent growth in the last 10 years, even though these were not normal times.”
“This growth rate has been achieved despite a global pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world. This is the result of the reforms of the last 10 years. India alone is contributing 15 per cent to global growth. My government is working to make India the world’s third-largest economy,” she said.
Murmu said the three new criminal laws, which are slated to come into force from July 1, will provide justice rather than punishment, which was the mindset during the British regime.
She said the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 will speed up the judicial process.
These laws, enacted last year, are set to replace the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.
“The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita will come into force in the country from the 1st of July. During the British regime, there was the mindset to punish the subjects. Unfortunately, the same penal system of the colonial era continued for many decades after Independence,” she said.
The President said the idea of changing criminal laws was much talked about for many decades, but it is this government which has shown the courage to do it.
“Now justice will get priority over punishment, which also conforms to the spirit of our Constitution,” she said.
The Government is fully committed to a fair investigation in the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished, Murmu said.
She said the Government is working towards major reforms in all aspects of exam process and the functioning of examination-related bodies.
The President said the examination process requires complete transparency and probity, whether it is competitive examinations or Government recruitment tests.
Murmu said the Central Government is reviving the country’s cultural heritage and glory along with making efforts to build the future for the nation, taking pride in both ‘vikas’ and ‘virasat’.
She also hailed the new campus of Nalanda University, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar.
“My Government, along with making efforts to build a future, is also reviving the country’s cultural heritage and glory. Recently, the new grand Nalanda University campus that was inaugurated has added a new chapter to this,” she said.
Nalanda was not just a university but also a “proof of India’s glorious past” and “I am assured that the new Nalanda University will contribute towards making India a global knowledge hub,” Murmu said.
In her address, she also underlined that various pilgrimage sites and centres of faith in the country are being rejuvenated so that people can get inspired by their ancient culture.
“My Government, along with ‘vikas’, is also working on ‘virasat’, taking the same pride,” the President said.
Free treatment to all aged above 70
All citizens aged above 70 years will be provided free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday.
The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace, she said while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament.
Under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), free health services are being provided to 55 crore beneficiaries, Murmu said.
“Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana,” the President said.
India is helping create a healthy world by promoting AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy), Murmu said.
She stated that the International Day of Yoga was recently celebrated as a global event.
“The prestige of this great legacy of the country is continuously rising in the world. By promoting yoga and AYUSH, India is helping create a healthy world,” the President said.
Today, India is emerging as a leader in every sector from IT to Tourism and from Health to Wellness, she stated.
The AB-PMJAY, the largest publicly funded health insurance scheme in the world, aims to provide health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore families.
Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) guidelines for empanelment of hospitals under AB-PMJAY mandates the State Health Agencies (SHAs) with the responsibility of empanelling hospitals under the scheme. (PTI)
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