Kovind delivers a message to anti-padmaavat protesters
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday called for a civic-minded nation where people disagree with an alternative viewpoint, even a historical context, without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space — a remark that seems to be aimed at fringe groups violently protesting the release of Padmaavat.
The President’s traditional address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day also touched on the other ongoing controversy — the crisis in the Supreme Court where the four senior most judges after the Chief Justice of India have publically aired their grievances against the latter.
In his address to the nation on the eve of the 69th Republic Day, President Kovind said a disciplined and morally upright nation is built by institutions that are “always more important t han t he i ndividuals located there” and where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people.
“A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions…that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions…institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence,” said Kovind.
His postulation of a civicminded nation came as an indirect repudiation of the Karni Sena and other fringe elements that have sought to prevent the screening of Padmaavat through intimidation and violent means, alleging that the film denigrates Padmavati, a legendary queen whose historical existence is the subject of debate.
The ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the world being one family, he said, is a composite and cohesive world that is at peace with itself and with nature. “It is an ideal that may sound i mpractical i n today’s times of tensions and of terrorism. But it is an ideal that has inspired India for thousands of years,” he said, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments at the World Economic Forum’s plenary in Davos earlier this week.
Touching upon other issues, Kovind added that the country couldn’t rest or be satisfied without meeting the basic needs and essential dignity of the less well-off brothers and sisters.
“I refer to those from a less privileged socio-economic background, from the weaker communities and from families that still live at the edge of poverty. It is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time.”
He said the country’s hopes lie in the 60% of the youth who are below 35 years and stressed the need to expand the frontiers of education and knowledge.
“Our aspiration must be to reform, upgrade and enlarge our education system and make it relevant to 21st century realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation.”