Umamageswari Maruthappan
The Parliamentary Joint Session had begun on 29th January 2021 with due restrictive measures and the Hon’ble President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, addressed both the houses of Parliament on a wide range of issues.
One of the main highlights of his speech is regarding the Supreme Court’s stay order on farm laws. President Kovind, while assuring to obey the stay order, had maintained that the three impugned farm laws would have beneficial results on implementation.
“Today there are more than 80 per cent small farmers, who number over 10 crore. The biggest beneficiaries of the new farm laws are these small farmers. They immediately started benefiting from these agricultural reforms,” he said.
The tractor rally protest on 26th January 2021 was also covered by the President in his address. He expressed his displeasure at the rally turning violent as “very unfortunate”.
“While the Constitution gives us the right to freedom of expression it is also expected that we abide by the laws and rules with equal sincerity,” he commented.
In his 2021 Budget Session speech, President Kovind had also lauded the governmental policies, the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown measures, scientific developments, improved health care facilities, educational, agricultural, and economic reforms among others.
President Kovind had further remarked that the government is trying to resolve the misunderstanding of its laws. He had also commented on the budgetary policies likely to be considered.
The joint session was boycotted by several oppositions who demanded the repeal of the farm laws.
