India is first responder, voice of Global South: President Droupadi Murmu

PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said due to India's human-centric approach, the country is the first responder in any crisis and has become a strong voice of the Global South. 

India has been at the forefront in safeguarding humanity; be it the Corona crisis or an earthquake or a war, the President said and added that due to the efforts of the Union government, Bharat is giving new confidence to the world as a Vishwa-Bandhu (global friend).

The way the world now views India was evident during the G-7 summit held in Italy, the President pointed out.

She said that India also brought the world together on various issues during her G-20 presidency.

It was during India's presidency, that the African Union was made a permanent member of the G-20, which has strengthened the confidence of Africa and the entire Global South, the President stressed.

Owing to its 'Neighbourhood First Policy', India has strengthened its relations with neighbouring countries, and participation of the leaders of seven countries in the swearing-in ceremony of the Union Council of Ministers on June 9 reflects this priority of the government, she added.

Highlighting the government's emphasis on connectivity, she said India, in the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, is also increasing cooperation with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region.

India's vision has given shape to the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor which will prove to be one of the biggest gamechangers of the 21st Century, she said.

*President Murmu on Thursday said that the Emergency imposed in 1975 was a blot on India's Constitution.

Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, she said, "The Emergency in 1975 was the biggest attack on the Constitution of India and a blot on it."

President Murmu said, "The Constitution of India has stood up to every challenge and every test in the past. Even when the Constitution was in the making, there were forces in the world who wished India to fail. 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 a direct attack on the Indian Constitution, she said.

President Murmu said the entire country felt outraged, but the nation emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the Republic lie at the core of India.

"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," the President said.

"With this objective in mind, my Government has started celebrating November 26 as Constitution Day," she said.

Her remarks come close on the heels of the heated exchange between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.

INDIA bloc parties have repeatedly said that over the last 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government being in power, an "undeclared Emergency" is in force, while the Union ministers have highlighted the horrors of the Emergency imposed in 1975 by then Indira Gandhi government.