Droupadi Murmu takes oath as President of India, expresses 'gratitude' in her maiden address
New Delhi, July 25: Droupadi Murmu took oath as the 15th President of India on Monday.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana administered the oath of office of the President to Murmu in the Central Hall of Parliament.
The ceremony of assuming office took place in Parliament's Central Hall. Murmu was escorted to the Central Hall by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Addressing the nation after being sworn in, President Droupadi Murmu stated that she was the first President to be born in independent India and was honoured to take charge at a time when the country is completing 75 years of Independence.
In her first address to the country as President, Murmu said her elevation to the top post is not only her own achievement but that of every poor of the country and is a reflection of the confidence of crores of Indians.
"Johar! Namaskar! I humbly greet all my fellow citizens from this sacred Parliament, a symbol of the hopes, aspirations and rights of all the citizens of India. Your affection, trust and support will be my greatest strength in discharging my functions and responsibilities," President Murmu said.
"I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the MPs and all the members of the Legislative Assembly for being elected to the highest constitutional post of India. Your vote is an expression of the faith of crores of citizens of the country," she added.
"It is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India," the President continued.
President Murmu also said that the country needs to speed up the efforts to meet the expectations that our freedom fighters had with the citizens of independent India.
She further added that the country has elected her as the President at a crucial time when India is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
"A few days from today, the country will complete 75 years of its independence. It is also a coincidence that my political career started when the country was celebrating its 50th year of independence and today in the 75th year of independence, I have got this new responsibility. It is my great privilege to be given this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years," the President added.
She continued, "I am the first President of the country who was born in independent India. We have to work at a fast pace in this Amritkal to fulfil the expectations that our freedom fighters had made from us citizens of independent India. In these 25 years, the path to the accomplishment of Amritkal will proceed on two tracks - everyone's effort and everyone's duty."
On July 22, former Jharkhand governor Murmu defeated her opponent Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential election, becoming the first woman tribal candidate and the country's second woman to hold the highest position.
Following the conclusion of the vote counting on Thursday, the NDA's presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu was officially declared the country's 15th President.
Murmu received 2,824 votes valued at 6,76,803, while her opponent, Yashwant Sinha, received 1,877 votes with a value of 3,80,177.
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In the polls on July 18, a total of 4,809 MPs and MLAs voted.
PC Mody, Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election 2022 presented the certificate to Droupadi Murmu at her residence in Delhi.
Soon after the third round of counting was completed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president JP Nadda met Murmu at her residence in the national capital and congratulated her on her victory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Droupadi Murmu on her victory as the country's new President, saying she has emerged as a light of hope for citizens, especially the poor, marginalised, and oppressed.
Outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated Droupadi Murmu, who will follow him in the highest office of the country. Across party lines, political allies congratulated Murmu on her election as India's first tribal president.
Odisha's Rairangpur village, Droupadi Murmu's hometown, erupted in celebrations in anticipation of Droupadi Murmu's triumph. Earlier, a massive crowd gathered outside the BJP headquarters in Delhi to celebrate her victory.
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-PTC News
