News Analysis India

Tag: Ram Nath Kovind

  • Farm laws fallout: Amid Opposition protests at Parliament, BJP throws arrogance barb at Congress

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  First day of the Parliament’s Budget Session saw the opposition protest in front of the Gandhi statue against the farm laws.

    As many as 20 opposition parties boycotted the presidential address and held protests in the Parliament complex.

    Left MPs marched near Parliament, demanding justice for farmers. BJP criticised the opposition for boycotting the presidential address, saying it was a ‘mattter of regret’.

    There was drama inside the House too.

    Rajasthan’s MP Hanuman Beniwal held out a placard and raised the slogan ‘repeal all three black laws’ during President’s address at the start of the Budget Session.

    Beniwal is the chief of Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, which left the NDA recently in protest against the farm laws.

    Also during the President’s address, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu raised the slogan ‘jai jawan jai kisan’.

    In the Lok Sabha during obituary references, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the house should pay respect to farmers who died during the agitation. The Speaker did not allow him to speak further.

    While Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and AAP MP Sanjay Singh also spoke in favour of raising slogans in support of the farmers, BJP slammed the opposition for boycotting Kovind’s address.

    Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was a matter of regret.

    BJP leaders added that when they were in the opposition during the UPA rule, they never resorted to boycotting the President’s address despite allegations of corruption and scams.

    Prasad said “arrogance” of the Congress is the “real problem” as it believes that it is bound to rule the country despite not having the popular mandate.

    Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Congress for the past few years has been pushing a false narrative that the Modi government is against the institutions. 

    “The hypocrisy of the Congress stands exposed after the boycott,” said Javadekar.

  • President shouldn’t have shown support to new farm laws during Parliament address: TMC

    He added that 19 opposition parties, including the TMC, did not attend the joint session addressed by the President.

  • Very unfortunate, says President Kovind on Republic Day violence as he defends farm laws

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday strongly defended the three contentious agri laws that have sparked intense protests from a section of farmers, and slammed as “‘very unfortunate” the violence during the farmers’ tractor parade on Republic Day.

    He also noted that the new agri laws have immediately benefited 10 crore small farmers.

    In his customary address to the joining sitting of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session, Kovind said the “insult” to the tricolour and Republic Day during the January 26 protests was “very unfortunate”.

    If the Constitution gives us the right to freedom of expression, it also reaches us to take laws and rules seriously, he said in his address that was boycotted by over 20 opposition parties in support of the demand of protesting farmers that the three laws be repealed.

    He said the three agricultural bills (now laws) were passed in Parliament seven months ago, after “extensive deliberations”.

    Kovind, in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, said the government had decided to give minimum support price (MSP) one-and-a-half times more than the cost, following the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.

    ALSO READ | Government sending RSS people to instigate clashes at Singhu border: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee

    “In the last six years, the government has attempted a positive change in every system of agriculture sector from seed to market, so that Indian agriculture can become modern and agriculture can also expand. My government had also decided to give MSP one-and-a-half times more than the cost, following the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. Today my government is not only purchasing record quantity on MSP but also increasing the number of procurement centres,” he said.

    Kovind said, after “extensive deliberations”, seven months ago, the Parliament passed three important agrarian reforms namely — the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Bill, the Agriculture (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Agreement Bill, and the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill.

    “These agricultural reforms started benefitting more than 10 crore small farmers immediately. Many political parties had given full support to these reforms from time to time only after realising these benefits to small farmers. At present, the implementation of these laws has been postponed by the country’s highest court. My government will respect and follow the Supreme Court’s decision in full respect,” he added.

    President said his government wants to make it clear that there was no cutailment in the rights and facilities to farmers before the formation of the three farm laws, “in fact with these new agricultural reforms the government has provided new facilities and rights to farmers.”

    The President said it is the need of the hour that special attention should be paid to the small and marginal farmers who have only one or two hectares of land in the agricultural sector.

    “More than 80 per cent of all farmers in the country are small farmers and their number is more than 10 crore. In 2013-14, where only 42 lakh hectares of land had the facility of micro-irrigation, today more than 56 lakh hectares of additional land has been connected with micro-irrigation. Small and marginal farmers are also a priority for my government. To support such farmers in their small expenses, around Rs 1,13,000 crores have been transferred directly to their accounts, under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Modi government using force to oppress farmers, alleges Sukhbir Singh Badal

    He also lauded the Central government for its “timely decision”, during the onging COVID-19 pandemic, “that saved the lives of lakhs of citizens” and pointed out that the number of new coronavirus cases was going down rapidly in the country.

    President Kovind, in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, paid tribute to those who succumbed due to the virus.

    “Joint sitting of Parliament amid Corona pandemic is essential. It’s a new year, a new decade and we are also entering into the 75th year of independence. Today all MPs are present here with message and trust that however tough be the challenge neither we nor India will stop. In this fight against the pandemic, we lost many citizens. Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in this Corona period. Six MPs left us untimely due to COVID. I pay my tribute to all of them,” he said.

    Scenes from Singhu border.Express video | @gayathrireports.@TheMornStandard @Sunday_Standard @khogensingh1 #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/jHyxUtaAz6
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) January 29, 2021

    “I am satisfied that the timely decision taken by my Government saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. Today the number of new COVID cases is going down rapidly. The number of recoveries is very high,” he added.

    Commenting upon the vaccination drive against COVID-19 which started on January 26, President Kovind said, “It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination programme in the world. Both vaccines of this programme are made in India. In this crisis, India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind and provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations.”

    “We have seen huge benefits of the work done by my government in the last 6 years in the health sector during this corona crisis,”

    President said that the facilities of Ayushman Bharat Yojana can be availed in any of the 24,000 hospitals across the nation. “The poor are getting medicines at very low costs at 7000 centres across the country, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana,” he added.

    The first part of the ongoing budget session will continue till February 15. The second part of the session will be held from March 8 to April 8.

    Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu raised slogans like ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ during his address and demanded repeal of the three laws.

    Some opposition MPs were heard raising slogans in the Central Hall’s gallery.

    Noting that the Supreme Court has put the implementation of the three laws on hold, Kovind said the government will respect whatever is the decision of the apex court.

    ALSO READ | Agri laws stir: More farmers from Haryana to head towards protest sites along Delhi borders

    In his address, the President highlights the view of the government approved by the Union Cabinet.

    He also referred to the Chinese aggression on the border, and asserted that his government is vigilant and fully committed to protecting the country’s interests.

    Additional forces have been deployed to safeguard India’s sovereignty, he said while paying tributes to the 20 soldiers who made supreme sacrifices in a clash with the Chinese army at the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh in June last year.

    India and China are locked in a tense military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last.

    (With ANI Inputs)

  • Government dedicated to farmers’ welfare: President bats for agri laws in his Republic Day message

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday paid tributes to farmers saying every Indian is grateful to them for ensuring food security in our vast and populous country, and gave the assurance that the government is devoted to farmers’ welfare.

    “Every Indian salutes our farmers, who have made our vast and populous country self-reliant in food-grains and dairy products. Despite adversities of nature, numerous other challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, our farmers sustained the agricultural production,” he said in his address on the eve of the 72nd Republic Day.

    “A grateful nation is fully committed to the welfare of our farmers. Just as our hardworking farmers ensure food security for the country, the brave soldiers of the armed forces ensure security of our national boundaries amid severest conditions,” Kovind said.

    The comments by the President come against the backdrop of the ongoing agitation by farmers against three new farm laws.

    The President said the path to reforms in the initial stages may cause misapprehensions, but the government is devoted to farmers’ welfare.

    “Economic reforms have continued apace and have been supplemented by long-pending reforms in the areas of labour and agriculture through legislation. The path to reform at the initial stages may cause misapprehensions. However, it is beyond doubt that the government remains singularly devoted to farmers’ welfare,” he said.

    Kovind said the country’s farmers, soldiers and scientists deserve special appreciation and the entire nation is grateful to them.

    “From space to the farms, from educational institutions to hospitals, the community of scientists has enriched our life and work. Our scientists have been working day and night for decoding the Coronavirus and they have succeeded in developing the vaccine in record time. With this accomplishment, our scientists have added a glorious chapter of contribution to the well-being of humanity.”

    “Our scientists, along with doctors, administrators and people from other walks of life, have made major contribution in containing the virus and keeping the fatality rate lower in our country, compared to that in developed countries. Thus, all our farmers, soldiers and scientists deserve special appreciation and a grateful nation greets them on this auspicious occasion of the Republic Day,” he said.

  • President Kovind first donor as RSS rolls out Ayodhya Ram Temple construction campaign

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI / LUCKNOW: While President Ram Nath Kovind made the first donation for the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat launched a campaign from Valmiki temple in Delhi, where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed for seven months in 1947 when the country was engulfed in communal riots.

    Ram Nath Kovind made a contribution of Rs 5,01,100 on behalf of his family, the international working president of the VHP Alok Kumar told TNIE. He said that the VHP has received donation on behalf of the family of the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. “We don’t have permission from him to disclose the amount,” he added.

    The RSS chief sought the blessings of Krishna Shah Vidyarthi, the Mahant of the Valmiki temple on Mandir Marg, as part of the launch of the campaign to reach out to 65 crore people across the country. “There was a one room Dharamshala at the Valmiki temple where Mahatma Gandhi had spent seven months in 1947 when there were riots all around. 

    The RSS has lunched the campaign from a very historical place,” Kumar said, adding that the campaign for the donation will run till February 27 and by then 5.25 lakh villages and 13 crore families would be contacted. On Friday, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan donated Rs 1 lakh; UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath was also among the donors; former UP CM Kalyan Singh also donated. 

    Members of Muslim Rashtriya Manch offered to make a donation. The construction of the temple in Ayodhya is estimated to cost around Rs 1,100 crore, of which around Rs 300-400 crore will be the cost of building the main temple structure.

    Modes of donations explainedDonations can be accepted through four media in the form of coupon worth Rs 10, Rs 100, Rs 1,000 . Besides, cash till Rs 20,000 will be accepted but beyond it, donations will have to be made through cheque

  • PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate PBD Convention; Suriname President to be chief guest at event

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to be held in virtual format on January 9, while Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi will be the chief guest and deliver the keynote address, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

    The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs and provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians, the MEA said in a statement.

    “In view of the sentiments of our vibrant diaspora community, the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organised on January 9, 2021, despite the ongoing COVID pandemic. The Convention will be held in virtual format, as were the PBD Conferences held recently in the run-up to the Convention,” it said.

    The theme of 16th PBD Convention 2021 is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

    The PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and will feature a keynote address by the chief guest, the Suriname President.

    The winners of the online ‘Bharat ko Janiye Quiz’ for the youth will also be announced.

    The Inaugural session will be followed by the two plenary sessions.

    The first plenary on ‘Role of Diaspora in Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ will feature addresses by the External Affairs Minister and the Commerce and Industry Minister, while the second plenary on ‘Facing Post Covid Challenges – Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations’ will be addressed by the Minister of Health and the Minister of State for External Affairs.

    Both plenaries will feature panel discussions inviting eminent diaspora experts.

    The finale would be the Valedictory Session where President Ram Nath Kovind will deliver his Valedictory address to mark the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

    The names of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees for 2020-21 will also be announced.

    Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognise their achievements and honour their contributions to various fields, both in India and abroad.

    The Youth PBD will also be celebrated virtually on the theme ‘Bringing together Young Achievers from India and Indian Diaspora’ on January 8, 2021, and will be anchored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

  • President Kovind must not sign farm bills, says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

    Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to not sign the agriculture reform bills that were recently cleared in the Rajya Sabha, saying the Centre is misleading farmers of the country.

    We urge the President not to sign the farm bills that were passed in Parliament in an unconstitutional manner. We also demand that the NDA government takes back these black legislations and ensure ‘one nation, one market and one price’,” Bhupesh Baghel said, according to news agency ANI.

    The Congress leader also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet ministers for “misleading farmers”. “PM Modi, his cabinet colleagues and BJP leaders are saying that farmers can now sell their agriculture produce anywhere. I want to ask them: when were farmers not allowed to sell their produces as per their wish? They’re misleading farmers,” the chief minister said.

    On September 20, the Rajya Sabha passed the two key farm bills – Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. During the agriculture reform bills debate, the upper house witnessed ruckus as several opposition parties raised a strong objection.