Parliament session day 4 highlights: Amid NEET-UG row, President Murmu assures guilty will be punished

Opposing policies and obstructing Parliament are two different things, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday as she addressed the first joint sitting of the 18th Lok Sabha.

She said making India a developed nation is the aspiration and resolve of every citizen of the country and no obstacle should come in the way of fulfilling their aspirations.

“Opposition of policies and obstruction of parliamentary functioning are two different things. When Parliament conducts its business smoothly, healthy deliberations take place here, and far-reaching decisions are taken, then the people repose confidence not only in the Government but also in the entire system,” he said.

“Therefore, I am confident that every moment of Parliament will be fully utilised and public interest will be given priority,” she said in her first address to Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha.

-PTI

“The government claims that we are the world’s fifth largest economy and soon going to be the third largest economy. Then why are farmers facing crisis? Why are the youths unemployed on such a large scale? The country cannot grow with the growth of a few people,” says Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

“Yes, it should definitely be removed. We are in a democracy. Sengol can be put in a museum where everyone can see it. We support whoever has brought this up. As it is a symbol of monarchy, it should be removed,” Misa Bharti said.

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.

-PTI

Many historic steps and major economic decisions will be taken in the upcoming budget, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday as she addressed a joint sitting of Parliament.

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 in her first address to the joint sitting of Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha.

“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.

She said her government believes there should be healthy competition between states for investment.

“This is in the spirit of competitive-cooperative federalism,” she added.

-PTI

The government is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished, President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Addressing the 18th Lok Sabha for the first time, the president said her government is working to create an environment to enable youth of the country dream big and achieve them.

As she mentioned steps taken by the government on the education front, some opposition members were heard shouting “NEET”.

“If due to any reason there is obstruction in examinations it is not appropriate. Sanctity, transparency are a must in government recruitments and examinations,” she said.

“The government is committed to conduct fair investigation and ensure the most stringent punishment to those guilty in the recent incidents of paper leak,” she said.

Addressing a joint session of the Parliament, President Murmu said that the people of India have always expressed their full faith in democracy and have expressed full faith in the institutions related to elections.

“To maintain a healthy democracy, we have to preserve and protect this trust,” she said. 

Every attempt to tarnish our democracy should be condemned by all, she added. 

Praising the government, President Murmu said that due to India’s human-centric approach, the country has become a first responder in a nay crisis and is a loud voice of the Global South. 

The government has built 3.8 lakh km rural roads under PM Gramin Sadak Yojana to connect villages, President Murmu said. 

Addressing a joint session of the Parliament, Ms. Murmu said that the government is also working for the peace of North East. She said that several old problems have been addressed by the government. 

Ms. Murmu said the government has ushered in a new era of women empowerment with its focus on women-led development. Today, women have the power of Nari Shakti Vandan Act, she said.

Namo Drone Didi Scheme is helping women of self-help groups to become drone pilots.

Addressing a joint session of the Parliament, President Murmu said that the pledge of reform, perform and transform has made India the fastest-growing economy in the world. 

“In 10 years, India rose from the 11th position to become the 5th largest economy...Despite a pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world, India has been able to achieve this growth rate,” she said. 

The President said that today, India is contributing to 15% of the global growth.

“My government is giving equal importance to all three pillars of the economy – Manufacturing, Services and Agriculture. PLI schemes and Ease of Doing Business are increasing investment and employment opportunities on a large scale,” President Murmu said. 

Along with traditional sectors, the President said that sunrise sectors are also being promoted on mission mode.

Talking about farmers, President Murmu said that more than Rs. 3 lakh 20 thousand crore has been given to them under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. 

Congratulating BJP for winning the Lok Sabha elections, President Murmu said, “A stable government with a complete majority has been formed in the country after six decades. People have shown trust in this Govt for the third time. People are aware that only this Govt can fulfil their aspirations...”

In a joint session of the Parliament, the President also said the government will president the Budget in the upcoming sessions. “This budget will be an effective document of the government’s far-reaching policies and futuristic vision. Along with big economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in this budget,” she said.

“On behalf of crore of countrymen, I would like to express gratitude Election Commission of India. This was the biggest election in the world...Decades-long records of voting have been broken in J&K. For the past 4 decades, Kashmir witnessed low voting amid shutdowns and strikes. India’s enemies propagated it as the opinion of Kashmir, on international forums. But this time, Kashmir valley gave a befitting reply to all such forces...” President Murmu said to the joint session of Parliament.

President Droupadi Murmu congratulates all the newly-elected MPs as she addresses a joint session of the Parliament. 

“You all have come here by winning the trust of country’s voters. Very few get this opportunity to serve the nation and the people. I have full faith that you would fulfill your duties with a feeling of nation first,” the President said.

After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to three days’ CBI remand by the Rouse Avenue Court in the Delhi Excise Policy case, Aam Aadmi Party announced that its MPs would boycott President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament. 

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak said that the President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise voices.

“Today we will protest in the Rajya Sabha against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and we will boycott the President’s address. The President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise our voices,” he said.

- ANI