A remark made by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi regarding President Droupadi Murmu’s speech during the Joint Session of Parliament has sparked controversy. Speaking to reporters after the President’s address on Friday, Gandhi said, “The President was getting very tired by the end… She could hardly speak, poor thing.”
President Murmu’s speech marked the start of the Budget Session, where she outlined the government’s focus on comprehensive development. She emphasized the goal of transforming India into a “Vikshit Bharat” (developed India), stating that the government is working with a “saturation approach” to ensure no one is left behind on the journey.
“My government is working with the Saturation Approach so nobody is left in the journey of Vikshit Bharat… We have only one aim—to become Viksit Bharat,” the President stated.
Murmu also praised the government’s efforts in defense self-reliance, noting the success of India’s defense products, now being recognized globally. “The country has taken several historic steps to protect our borders and ensure internal security… From Make in India, we have moved to make for the world,” she said.
The completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project was another key highlight of her address. “Now, the country will be connected by a railway line from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. India’s metro rail network has also surpassed 1000 kilometers, making us the world’s third-largest metro network,” Murmu said.
Touching on the development of India’s North Eastern states, she mentioned the successful organization of the first Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav to showcase the potential of the region. She also highlighted the establishment of 1.75 lakh “Arogya Mandir” across the country to improve healthcare access and noted the government’s move to waive customs duties on several cancer medications in response to rising cases.
Amid global technological challenges, the President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering cybersecurity, pointing out that India now holds a Tier 1 status in the Global Cyber Security Index. She also noted that the country has achieved significant milestones in infrastructure over the past decade.
In closing, President Murmu praised the Finance Ministry’s initiatives to promote business, such as the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs and e-commerce export hubs. She also highlighted the success of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, which has seen significant growth in transactions.
