President Ram Nath Kovind spoke about the abrogation of Article 370 in his address to the nation on the eve of India’s 73rd Independence Day. Kovind said that the recent changes made to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be of immense benefit to the people of the region. “They will enable the people to access and enjoy the same rights, same privileges and same facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country,” Kovind said.
The Narendra Modi-led government had on August 5 abrogated Article 370, the temporary provision that provided a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The government also announced that Jammu and Kashmir would be split into 2 Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The President’s address came in the backdrop of India celebrating it’s 73th Independence Day on Thursday. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian national flag on the Red Fort in Delhi. Keeping this tradition alive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will raise the tricolour at the Red Fort on Thursday which will be followed by an address. This will be his sixth straight address from the ramparts of Red Fort.
Heavy security has been deployed in New Delhi ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. The Delhi traffic police has also put out a traffic advisory to ensure minimal inconvenience to residents due to the Independence Day function at the Red Fort.
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Enactment of law making instant triple talaq a criminal offence will deliver justice for our daughters, Kovind said in his Independence Day address.
Speaking about the recently held Lok Sabha elections, President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated voters for turning out in large numbers. “Earlier this summer, people of India participated in the 17th general election, the largest democratic exercise in human history. For this I must congratulate our voters. They turned up at polling stations in large numbers & with much enthusiasm,” Kovind said.
President Kovind said that means of communication and transportation are being expanded in all parts of the nation. Better roads are being constructed. Roads are also being constructed in hinterlands.
I’m confident that the recent changes made in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh would be of immense benefit to those regions. They will enable the people to access & enjoy the same rights, same privileges & same facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country: President Ram Nath Kovind.
“This year also marks the 550th birth anniversary of one of the greatest, wisest and most influential Indians of all time Guru Nanak Dev ji. He was the founder of Sikhism but the reverence and respect he commands go far beyond just our Sikh brothers and sisters,” Ram Nath Kovind said.
President Ram Nath Kovind paid a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi saying that he had predicted the challenges that we would be facing today.
President Ram Nath Kovind has started his address to the nation on the eve of the 73rd Independence Day.
President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Police Medal to TS Gopakumar, Asst Security Commissioner, Southern Railway for Distinguished Service. He also awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 15 Railway Protection Force/Railway Protection Special Force officers and staff.
Ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s address, Defence minister Rajnath Singh’s message will be broadcast on All India Radio from 6.15 pm onwards.