Kovind says CAA ‘historic’ amid protests
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind told a joint sitting of Parliament on Friday that “violence in the name of protests weakens the society and the nation” even as the first session of the decade got off to an acrimonious start over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, with opposition parties flashing banners and chanting slogans against the legislation.
Addressing both Houses of Parliament, Kovind also underscored the expectations placed by the Indian Constitution that “decisions taken through democratic processes will be accepted”. The customary presidential address is approved by the Union Cabinet and serves as a broad framework of government policy and intended legislations delivered in Parliament at the beginning of every year.
Speaking at a time when antiand pro-CAA rallies are being staged in several parts of the country, President Kovind’s speech tried to give the contentious law higher social legitimacy by linking it with the words of the father of the nation, Mahatma
Gandhi. “Gandhi had said: ‘Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan, who do not wish to live there, can come to India. It is the duty of the Government of India to ensure a normal life for them’. Many national leaders and political parties have from time to time supported this idea of Pujya Bapu (beloved father of the nation) and further propagated it. It is our responsibility to honour this wish of the founding fathers of our nation. I am happy that both the Houses of Parliament have fulfilled this wish, by enacting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. At a time when the country is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi ji,” Kovind said.
President Kovind said in the speech that, apart from protecting the rights of every Indian citizen “our Constitution makes the citizens of the country mindful of their duties. Further, our Constitution also places an expectation that the decisions taken through democratic processes will be accepted by the countrymen”.
“At the same time,” he added, “the Constitution expects the Parliament and every member present in this House to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen.”