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In emotional farewell speech, President Kovind thanks PM, invokes Gandhi. Watch
President Ram Nath Kovind's term comes to an end on Sunday.
In an emotional farewell speech on Saturday, a day before his tenure ends, President Ram Nath Kovind thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invoked Mahatma Gandhi. President Kovind was addressing the Parliament, a day after he was felicitated with a farewell dinner at PM Modi’s residence.
“Multiple ways to resolve differences and disputes emerge when we see India as a big family. Peace and non-violence were Mahatma Gandhi’s tools to instill harmony...we ought to adopt his ways,” said the President, who has been only the second from the Dalit community to serve the county in the role. “The Gandhian philosophy should always be followed by MPs while exercising rights of debate and dissent in Parliament,” he said.
President Kovind not only recalled his tenure and key moments but also his growing up years in a mud house in the farewell speech.
“I will always be grateful to the citizens of the country for giving me the opportunity to serve as President,” he said. His successor - Droupadi Murmu - would now be the first tribal woman to serve in the role. He also congratulated her during the address.
Calling parliament a “temple of democracy”, President Ram Nath - with PM Modi in attendance - said: “I thank PM Modi's council of ministers, VP Venkaiah Naidu, LS Speaker Om Birla for the support during my tenure.”
President Ram Nath Kovind’s session ends on Sunday and Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as India’s 15th president on Monday.
In his last speech in parliament as President Kovind also recalled the struggle during the pandemic. ”World is struggling because of COVID pandemic. I hope we learn lessons from the pandemic, we forgot that we are all part of nature. In difficult times, India's efforts were praised all across the world,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
