VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Aug 14:
In her stirring Independence Day address, President Droupadi Murmu reaffirmed India’s commitment to women’s empowerment, social inclusion, good governance, and decisive action against terrorism. She highlighted that the country’s sustained progress is underpinned by unity, reform, and self-reliance.
Celebrating the achievements of Indian women, the President noted their globally comparable excellence across generations, particularly in sports, and pointed out that the gender gap in employment is narrowing. With the enactment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, she emphasised, women’s empowerment has moved beyond rhetoric to become a tangible reality.
The address also acknowledged the transformation of historically marginalised communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and others. Government initiatives, she said, are enabling these groups to realise their social and economic aspirations, shedding the label of marginalisation.
Reiterating her commitment to “sustained good governance” and “zero tolerance for corruption,” President Murmu invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s reminder that “corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy.” She called on citizens to pledge themselves to eradicating corruption.
Turning to national security, the President condemned the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, calling the killing of innocent tourists “cowardly and utterly inhuman.” She praised the armed forces’ decisive response in Operation Sindoor, which she described as a historic example of humanity’s fight against terrorism. The cross-border operation, conducted with “strategic clarity and technical capability,” destroyed terrorist hubs and underscored the nation’s self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.
She lauded the unity displayed in the aftermath of the attack, including the role of multi-party parliamentary delegations that explained India’s stance to the international community. “We will not be the aggressor, but we will not hesitate to retaliate in defence of our citizens,” she asserted.
The President also urged citizens to take up environmental stewardship, stressing the need for changes in habits, worldviews, and relationships with nature to combat climate change. “With contribution from all of us, we will leave behind a planet in which life will be flourishing in natural order,” she said.
Concluding her address, President Murmu extended Independence Day greetings to soldiers, police, Central Armed Police Forces, judiciary, civil services, Indian diplomats abroad, and the diaspora. “Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” she declared.
