‘Your trust will be my strength, my post is the achievement of every poor in India’: Draupadi Murmu addresses nation

NEW DELHI: “Your trust and support will be a major strength for me to carry out this new responsibility”, said India’s 15th President Draupadi Murmu, while addressing the nation. “Reaching the Presidential post is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. My nomination is evidence that the poor in India can not only dream but also fulfil those dreams. It is satisfying to me that the people who were devoid of development for years - the poor, dalits, backward, the tribals - can see me as their reflection. My nomination has blessings of the poor behind it, it's a reflection of the dreams and capabilities of crores of women”, she said.

Murmu assumed office at a ceremony in the Central Hall of the Parliament on Monday morning. She was administered the oath of the office by CJI N V Ramana. The ceremony was witnessed by numerous prominent leaders including, outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, union ministers, chief ministers, governors, MPs, top officials and foreign envoys among others. Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Murmu had paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in the national capital. The lessons given by Gandhiji are an inspiration for every step forward and I will move ahead through his ideas, she said.