President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday stressed the need for keeping "national interest paramount" while fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen.
In his address to the joint session of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session, Kovind said: "Our Constitution expects from this Parliament and every member present in this House to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen and make necessary laws for them, keeping national interest paramount."
Kovind also said that any form of violence in the name of protests makes "our society and country weaker."
Below are the highlights:
12:01am: President's joint address to Parliament ends
11:58am: Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) a key move, says President Kovind
11:53am: President Kovind condemns atrocities against minorities in Pakistan, urges global community to take necessary action
11:46am: Govt committed to make India $5 trillion economy, says President Kovind
11:40am: Digital India is an inspiration for the world, says President Kovind
11:35am: On the special request of my government, Saudi Arabia increased Haj quota unprecedentedly, due to which a record 2 lakh Indian Muslims performed Haj this time. India is the first country where the entire process of Haj was done digitally and online, says President Kovind
11:26am: Provision of giving citizenship to all communities prevails, says President referring to CAA
11:24am: Uproar in Parliament as President Kovind speaks on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). President said. "CAA has fulfilled Mahatma Gandhi's dream"
11:20am: The abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution through two-thirds majority by both the Houses of Parliament is not only historic but it has also paved the way for equal development of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, says President Kovind
11:18am: Any kind of violence in the name of protests weakens democracy, says President
11:16am: Govt focusing on aspirations of farmers and poor, says President Kovind
11:14am: The mandate my government has been given is one to create a 'New India'. That is what my government has set out to do, says Prez Kovind
11:10am: My government is clearly of the view that mutual discussions and debates further strengthen democracy. At the same time, any kind of violence in the name of protest weakens the society and the country, says Ptrez Kovind
11:08am: The mature way in which the countrymen behaved after the Supreme Court's decision on Ramjanmabhoomi is also praiseworthy
11:00am: Our constitution expects from this Parliament and every member present in this House to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen and make necessary laws for them, keeping national interest paramount: President Kovind
