New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee today addressed a joint sitting of Parliament, in which he listed the priorities and agenda of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
He said the greatest challenge before the new government is to end the curse of poverty in India.
The President listed the priorities of the NDA government which include ushering the economy on the path of fast and all-round growth besides tackling price rise and inflation.
He added that the government would focus on those who were in most need of the basic necessities of life. "Containing food inflation would be the top most priority of the government. My government will take effective steps to prevent hoarding and black marketing. My government is aware of the possibility of a sub normal monsoon this year and contingency plan is being prepared,” the President said.
“My government is dedicated to the poor, poverty has no religion, hunger has no creed. My government will not be satisfied with mere poverty alleviation but commits itself to the goal of poverty elimination,” he said.
"My government will function with the mantra of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'," the President said.
He was speaking in the Central Hall of Parliament.
The President added containing food inflation will be the topmost priority of the government.
"We will not settle for only poverty alleviation, we are aiming for poverty elimination," said Mukherjee.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will have separate sittings 30 minutes after the conclusion of the address and the secretaries general of both the Houses will table a copy of the speech.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will hold a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address on Tuesday and Wednesday according to the provisional list of business in the Houses.
On behalf of the ruling party, while BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will initiate the discussion in Rajya Sabha, party general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy will do so in Lok Sabha.
Here are the highlights:
# Pranab Mukherjee hails a decisive verdict in the Lok Sabha elections.
# New MPs represent hopes, aspirations and dreams of the people: President.
# We express solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives during the election: President.
# People have voted for a strong and united India: Pranab Mukherjee.
# I applaud wisdom of the people for this verdict: Pranab
# This is a verdict for sabke saath sabka vikas: Pranab
# ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', says President, tells MPs that greatest challenge is to end the curse of poverty.
# My government is committed to improve the quality of life in our villages, says Pranab
# It will take necessary steps to provide security to citizens of the country: Pranab
# Electorate cast aside boundaries of caste, creed, region and religion and voted for development, good governance and stability: Prez
# Containing inflation is the top most priority of my government: Pranab.
# The greatest challenge is to end the curse of poverty: Pranab
# Water conservation will be one of the priorities for this government: Pranab. Each drop of water is precious. Govt is committed to provide water security and will launch Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
# My government will nurture the youth – the human resource dividend of the country: Pranab
# Sports will be popularised. Government will launch National Sports Talent Search System: President.
# The government will work towards modernising the madrasa: Pranab
# My government will set up IITs and IIMs in every state: Pranab
# Govt will try to end rural-urban divide and is committed to reverse trend of hopelessness among farmers that leads to suicides: Prez
# Govt will have a policy of ‘zero tolerance' for violence against women; govt will strengthen criminal justice system: President.
# Govt will give 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and legislative assemblies: President.
# Sensitivity to security concerns and end to export of terrorism to neighbours is needed for stability in the region, says President.
# Will further work together with South Asian leaders to revitalise SAARC as an effective instrument for regional cooperation: President.
# Govt will never shy away from raising issues of concern to India at a bilateral level, says President.
# Govt is determined to rid the country of the scourge of corruption and menace of black money: President.
# Low cost airports will be developed to promote air connectivity to smaller towns; a port-led development model will be evolved: President.
# Govt will create a policy environment which is predictable, transparent and fair; will make every effort to introduce GST: President.
# Govt will launch a diamond quadrilateral project of high-speed trains, says President.
# Govt will strive to move towards a single-window system of clearances both at Centre and states: President.
# Reforms will be undertaken to enhance the ease of doing business; govt will encourage investments including FDI: President.
# International civil nuclear agreements will be operationalised and nuclear power projects developed: President.
# The government will build a national war memorial to honour our soldiers, says Pranab.
