Biggest Attack on Constitution: President Murmu Recounts Emergency Era in Joint Parliament Address

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday added fire to the BJP's offensive against the Congress by recounting the 1975 Emergency era which completed its 49th year on June 25. She said that it was the darkest chapter of the biggest attack on the Constitution in independent India. 

Addressing the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, President Murmu affirmed that every attempt to tarnish the country's democracy should be condemned by everyone.  

“In the coming few months, India is going to complete 75 years as a Republic. The Indian Constitution has withstood every challenge and test in the past decades. Even after the Constitution was implemented in the country, there have been many attacks on the Constitution.”

“Emergency implemented on 25th June 1975 was a direct attack on the Constitution. When it was imposed, there was an uproar in the entire country. But the country has shown victory over such unconstitutional forces," President Murmu added. 

Prez Murmu Lauds ‘Majboot Sarkaar’ 

She lauded the ‘majority government’ formed by the BJP-led NDA and affirmed that people have shown their faith in stability. President Murmu also congratulated all the newly-elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday and the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha began on June 27 after the inaugural address by President Murmu. 

President Murmu also unveiled the priorities of the newly-elected government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her inaugural address to the Parliament. Here are the top 10 quotes from President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 

President Murmu Addresses Parliament: Top 10 Quotes 

1. "A stable government with a complete majority has been formed in the country again. People have shown trust in this Govt for the third time. People are aware that only this Govt can fulfil their aspirations."
2. "We are making efforts to make our Constitution, a part of public consciousness. With this, my government has started celebrating 26 November as Constitution Day. The Constitution has been fully implemented in our Jammu and Kashmir, where the situation was different due to Article 370."
3. Addressing the recent controversy over the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, she said, "It is a continuous effort of the Government to ensure that the youth of the country gets adequate opportunity to display their talent...My government is committed to a fair investigation of the recent incidents of paper leaks as well as stringent punishment for the guilty. Even before this, we have seen paper leaks in different states. Rising above partisan politics, a nationwide concrete solution is needed for this. Parliament has formed a strict law against irregularities in examinations..."
4. On CAA, she said, "My Government has started giving citizenship to refugees under the CAA law. I wish a better future for the families who have received citizenship under CAA. 
5. Remarking on the recent inauguration of the Nalanda University campus in Bihar, she said, "My Government is re-establishing the heritage and culture of India along with efforts to build the future. Recently, a new chapter has been added to it in the form of the Vocational Campus of Nalanda University. Nalanda was not just a university, it was proof of India's glorious past as a centre of basic knowledge. I am confident that the new Nalanda University will prove helpful in making India a global knowledge hub...."
6. “My government is going to take one more decision, all the elderly above 70 years of age will get the benefit of free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Due to frequent opposition, prejudice, mentality and narrow selfishness, the basic spirit of democracy has been greatly harmed. This affects the Parliament as well as the country's development journey.”
7. "For a capable India, modernity in our armed forces is essential. We should be the best in the face of war - to ensure this, the process of reforms should go on continuously in the armed forces. With this mindset, my government took several important steps in the last 10 years...With reforms, India is indulging in defence manufacturing of more than Rs 1 Lakh Crores. In the last 1 decade, our defence exports have increased by 18 times and touched Rs 21,000 Crores..."
8. “Today, India is performing well in many areas. If India performs well in the world in terms of digital payments, then we should be proud. If Indian scientists successfully land Chandrayaan on the southern side of the moon, then we should be proud. If India becomes the fastest-growing economy in the world, then we should be proud. If India completes such a big election without much violence, then also we should be proud.”
9. "Today, the whole world respects us as the Mother of Democracy. The people of India have always expressed their full faith in democracy. They have expressed full trust in the institutions related to elections. To maintain a healthy democracy, we have to preserve this faith."
10. "We remember the time when ballot papers were looted and snatched away. In order to make the voting process secure, it was decided to adopt EVMs. In the past several decades, EVMs have crossed many hurdles from the Supreme Court..."