In her speech, the President said that global order is taking a new shape in this third decade of 21st century…reports Asian Lite News
Noting that India’s vision has given shape to the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said that the planned corridor will prove to be one of the biggest gamechangers of 21st century.
Addressing a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament today, President Murmu said that India has strengthened its relations with the neighbouring countries.
She said India is the first responder in any crisis due to its human-centric approach.
“Following the Neighbourhood First policy, India has strengthened its relations with the neighbouring countries. Leaders of seven neighbouring countries participated in the swearing-in ceremony of the Union Council of Ministers on June 9,” the President said.
“Whether it is East Asia or the Middle East and Europe, my government is giving a lot of importance to connectivity. The vision of India has started giving shape to the India-Middle East Economic Corridor. This corridor will be one of the biggest game changers of the 21st century,” she added.
India, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union had signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor during the New Delhi G20 Summit held in September last year.
“We have worked on the IMEC, which is going to be a big game changer like the Silk Route was a game changer. There was a positive and proactive role of the Gulf countries. India got an opportunity to play a good role. The US and Europe were with us. And everyone thought that there would be a concrete, positive outcome. So we used to meet on that,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told in an interview earlier.
In her speech, the President said that global order is taking a new shape in this third decade of 21st century.
“Due to the efforts of my Government, Bharat is giving a new confidence to the world as a Vishwa-Bandhu. Due to its human-centric approach, India today is the first responder in any crisis and has become a strong voice of the Global South. India has been at the forefront in safeguarding humanity be it the Corona crisis or an earthquake or a war,” she said.
President Murmu said that India has united the world on many issues during its G20 presidency.
She said that the African Union was made the 27th member of the grouping under India’s Presidency, and noted that the move has strengthened the “trust of the African continent as well as the entire Global South.”
“How the world’s view of India has changed, we have all experienced this in the G7 Summit held in Italy. India has united the world on many issues during its G20 presidency. It is during India’s presidency that the African Union has been made the 27th member of G20. This has strengthened the trust of the African continent as well as the entire Global South,” the President said.
A breakthrough was achieved on the first day of the New Delhi Summit G20 Summit as there was consensus on”Ukraine paragraphs” with shift in position by some countries. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted unanimously. (ANI)
Oppn slams President’s address to Parliament
Opposition leaders slammed the government over the President’s address with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying not to accept the message of Lok Sabha polls “which was against him”.
He said people rejected PM Modi’s slogan of “400 paar” and kept BJP away from the majority mark of 272.
In his remarks on the President’s address, PM Modi said it was comprehensive and presented a roadmap of progress and good governance.
“It covered the strides India has been making and also the potential that lies ahead. Her address also mentioned some of the major challenges we have to collectively overcome to ensure a qualitative change in the lives of our citizens,” the Prime Minister said in a post on ‘X’.
In her speech, the President said about 64 crore voters performed their duty with enthusiasm and zeal in the Lok Sabha polls and EVM has passed every test, from the Supreme Court to the people’s court, in the last few decades.
“Women cast their votes in huge numbers this time also. A very heartening aspect of this election emerged from Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir Valley broke all records of voter turnout of many decades. In the last four decades, we had witnessed low voter turnout amidst shutdowns 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,” she said.
The President said the whole world is talking about the Lok Sabha elections.
“The world is witnessing that the people of India have elected a stable Government with clear majority, consecutively for the third term. This has happened after six decades. At a time when the aspirations of people of India are at their highest ever, people have reposed faith in my Government for the third consecutive term. The people of India have full faith that only my Government can fulfil their aspirations,” she said.
“Therefore, this election of 2024 has been an election of trust in policy, intention, dedication and decisions – trust in a strong and decisive government, trust in good governance, stability and continuity, trust in honesty and hard work, trust in security and prosperity, trust in government’s guarantees and delivery, trust in India’s resolve to be Viksit Bharat…
“It is a stamp of approval for my Government’s mission of service and good governance undertaken in the past 10 years. It is a mandate that the work of making India a developed nation continues uninterrupted and India attains its goals,” she added.
The President said along with major economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in the budget likely to be presented during the monsoon session of parliament.
“The pace of reforms will be further accelerated in tune with the aspirations of people of India for rapid development. My Government believes that there should be healthy competition among the states to attract investors from all over the world. This is the true spirit of competitive cooperative federalism. We will continue to move ahead with the belief that the development of the country lies in the development of the states,” she said.
She said India is the fastest growing economy in the world and in 10 years, the country has risen to become the fifth largest economy from being the 11th ranked economy.
“From 2021 to 2024, India has grown at an average rate of 8 percent annually. And this growth has not been achieved under usual circumstances. This has been made possible due to reforms and major decisions undertaken in the national interest in the last 10 years. Today, India alone is contributing 15 percent of the global growth. The government is striving to make India the 3rd largest economy in the world. Achieving this goal will also strengthen the foundation of a developed India.” She said along with the traditional sectors, sunrise sectors are also being promoted in mission mode and the government is also making continuous efforts to reduce the cost of logistics.
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