Parliament logjam to terrorism: 7 big takeaways from President's pre I-Day address

Delivering his customary address to the nation on the eve of India’s 69th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee expressed concern on a host of issues – ranging from the recent Parliament logjam to the hostile western front with Pakistan. The spurt in terrorism, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, the shortcomings in the education sector and the pressure on environment also attracted the president’s attention.

Focussing on the need to maintain communal harmony in the country and on steps to improve international relations with other countries, President Mukherjee termed the India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement “heartening” while praising the civilians who captured the Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Naved alive in Udhampur.

‘Parliament an arena of combat’

As one of the three constitutional pillars that constitutes Parliament, President Mukherjee, in no uncertain terms disapproved the pandemonium that reigned both the Houses during the recently concluded Monsoon Session. Bringing up the point that democracy, which was “the most precious gift” of the Constitution of India, the president said that the “institutions of democracy are under stress.”

“The Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate…If the institutions of democracy are under pressure, it is time for serious thinking by the people and their parties. The correctives must come from within,” said President Mukherjee.

He also quoted some lines from the closing speech of Dr BR Ambedkar (Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution) in the Constituent Assembly in November 1949 in which Ambedkar had said that the success of the Constitution depended on the way the people and political parties behave in the country.

‘Zero tolerance for terrorism’

A day after NIA chief Sharad Kumar said the agency has evidence to show that Naved – the only terrorist captured alive after the Udhampur terror attack – belonged to Pakistan and was part of Lashkar-e-Taiba, President Mukherjee said, “Our neighbours must ensure that their territory is not used by forces inimical to India…We reject any attempt to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Infiltration into our territory and attempts to create mayhem will be dealt with a strong hand.”

Stressing on the point that India has a policy of “zero tolerance for terrorism”, the president said, “While we offer our hand willingly in friendship, we cannot stay blind to deliberate acts of provocation and a deteriorating security environment. India is a target of vicious terrorist groups operating from across the borders.”

He paid homage to the martyrs who died fighting for the country and specially commended “the civilians who boldly detained a hardened terrorist, ignoring the risk to their own lives”.

President on communal harmony

With the hanging of Mumbai 1993 serial blasts convict Yakub Memon still fresh in public memory, President Mukherjee took care to remind the citizens of the importance of communal harmony. The president’s reference to communal harmony could not have been more timely with the apprehended Pakistani terrorist Naved in a chilling video very recently admitting the “fun” he enjoys in exterminating Hindus.

“Vested interests chip away at social harmony, in an attempt to erode many centuries of secularism. In an age of instant communication through ever-improving technology, we must remain vigilant to ensure that the devious designs of a few never overcome the essential oneness of our people,” President Mukherjee said.

The president said the society must also be protected by humanity, which he said was “something greater than law”. He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi to drive his point home.

“India is a complex country of 1.3 billion people, 122 languages, 1600 dialects and 7 religions. Its strength lies in its unique capacity to blend apparent contradictions into positive affirmations,” said President Mukherjee.

‘Benefits of growth must reach the poorest of the poor’

Talking about the economy of India, President Mukherjee said, “Our performance over the last decade has been commendable; and it is most heartening that after a dip, we have recovered to 7.3 percent growth in 2014-15.”

But he also said that emphasis must be put on economic equality. “The benefits of growth must reach the poorest of the poor much before they land in the bank accounts of the richest of the rich. We are an inclusive democracy, and in an inclusive economy, there is place for everyone in the hierarchy of wealth. But the first call goes to those who suffer on the brink of deprivation,” said the president.

He said that the country’s economic policies must be able to meet the objective of ‘Zero Hunger’ in the future.

President on international relations

Appreciating the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh, President Mukherjee said, “It is heartening that the long pending land boundary issue with Bangladesh has been finally resolved.”

He laid stress on furthering regional cooperation, connectivity. “We must strengthen connectivity, expand institutional capacity and enhance mutual trust to further regional cooperation. As we make progress in advancing our interests globally, India is also engaged in pro-actively promoting goodwill and prosperity in our immediate neighbourhood.”

‘What happened to quality in education?’

Although President Mukherjee agreed that the number of educational institutions are increasing gradually, he sought the country’s attention to the parallely widening demand-supply gap in the sector. He even raised doubts on the quality of education being imparted to students.

“Our educational institutions multiply as the aspirations of generations continue to exceed supply. But what has happened to quality, from base to apex?” he said.

Going deep into the lacunae that ails the country’s education sector, the president talked about the “guru-shishya parampara (teacher-student tradition)” of ancient India and questioned why we have “abandoned the care, devotion and commitment that is at the heart of this relationship.”

“A guru, much like the soft and skillful hands of a potter, moulds the destiny of shishya,” President Mukherjee said. “Is that happening in our education system today? Students, teachers and authorities must pause and introspect,” he said.

President on environment conservation

In his much shorter speech than on earlier occasions, the president also mentioned about the immediate need to preserve the Earth and environment we live in.

Saying that the “symbiotic relationship” between man and nature needs to be protected, the President said, “A generous nature when violated can turn into a destructive force leading to calamities resulting in huge loss of life and property.”

His words were well-supplemented by the devastating floods that played havoc in North India until last week. “We need immediate relief for the afflicted as well as long-term solutions for the management of both, water deficiency and excess,” President Mukherjee said.