Kumar Bahukhandi
President of India Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on the eve of the 79th Independence Day-Photo Credit – Youtube-President of India Video grab
This marks President Murmu’s fourth Independence Day-eve address since taking office. It traditionally sets the tone for the following day’s national celebrations.
“India responded to the cowardly and inhuman Pahalgam attack with firm determination and decisiveness with Operation Sindoor which showed that our forces can brave any situation when it comes to national security,” she said.
“The fifteenth of August is a date etched in our collective memory. During the long years of colonial rule, generations of Indians dreamt of the day of Independence. Men and women, old and young, from all parts of the country, yearned to throw away the yoke of foreign rule. Their struggle was marked by robust optimism, which has continued to propel our progress since independence too. As we salute the tricolour tomorrow, we will also be paying homage to the memory of all freedom fighters whose sacrifices won India independence on the 15th of August, 78 years ago,” President Murmu said.
“In a democratic setup, we did not segregate between different sections while ensuring the right to vote,” she remarked, stressing India’s strong democratic institutions as well as reverence for the Constitution.
She also said, “Our Constitution contains four values as the four pillars upholding our democracy. They are – justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. These are our civilisational principles that we re-discovered during the Freedom Struggle. At the heart of them all, I believe, is the notion of human dignity. Every human being is equal, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Everyone should have equal access to healthcare and education. Everyone should have equal opportunity. Those who had been traditionally at a disadvantage needed to be given a helping hand. Keeping these principles foremost in mind, we started a new journey in 1947.”
With inflation under control and exports rising, all key indicators show Indian economy in pink of health, President Murmu highlighted while also emphasising India’s strides in self-reliance.
“Mahatma Gandhi strengthened the Swadeshi approach to highlight domestic produce. The Swadeshi approach has been inspiring the Make in India and the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaigns. We have to resolve to buy and consume domestically made products,” she said.
President Murmu has, in past addresses, consistently paid homage to India’s freedom fighters and emphasised democratic values, unity in diversity, and national aspirations.
