The Narendra Modi government made good use of President Droupadi Murmu’s joint address to the parliament on Thursday to counter the Opposition’s attack on it for lapses in conducting competitive examinations, charges of attempts to change the Constitution and Manipur violence.
During her address, Murmu said the government is taking strict measures to prevent question paper leaks in the future. “It is the continuous endeavour of the government to provide right opportunities to the youth of the country to demonstrate their talent. Whether it is competitive examinations or government recruitment there should be no reason for any hindrance. This process requires complete transparency and probity,” Murmu said.
She added, “Regarding the recent instances of paper leaks in some examinations, my government is committed to a fair investigation and ensuring strict punishment to the culprits. Even earlier, we have witnessed many instances of paper leaks in different states. It is important that we rise above party politics and undertake concrete measures nationwide. The parliament has also enacted a strict law against unfair means in examinations.My government is working towards major reforms in examination-related bodies, their functioning and all aspects of the examination process.”
Reminding about the Emergency imposed during the Indira Gandhi regime, the Modi government countered attacks on it of attempting to change the Constitution. “The Constitution of India has stood up to every challenge and every test in the past decades. Even after the Constitution came into force, it was attacked many times. The imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975, was the ‘biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack’ on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged. But the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the republic lie at the core of India,” she said.
Murmu added the government sees the Constitution not just as a medium of governance but aims to make it a part of public consciousness. “My government also does not consider the Constitution of India as just a medium of governance; rather we are making efforts to ensure that our Constitution becomes a part of public consciousness. With this very objective in mind, my Government has started celebrating November 26 as Constitution Day. Now the Constitution has also fully come into force in that part of India, our Jammu and Kashmir, where the conditions were different due to Article 370,” Murmu said.
On unrest in Manipur, Murmu said the government is making efforts for lasting peace. “My government is continuously working for lasting peace in the North-East. In the last ten years, many old disputes have been resolved, many important agreements have been reached. The work of withdrawing AFSPA from the disturbed areas of the northeast is also underway in a phased manner by accelerating development in those areas. These new initiatives in every aspect of development in the country are heralding the future of India,” the president added. Murmu added there has been a four-fold increase in budget allocation to northeastern region.
