Ram Nath Kovind, head of the state and the President of India greeted the people of the country on the eve of 72nd Republic day. In his speech, the President mentions the core values of the constitution: Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Kovind said, "These are the values that guided our freedom struggle."
President added, "I would like that we go further back into history and inquire why precisely these values guided our nation-builders. And the answer is obvious: This land and its inhabitants have cherished these ideals from the time immemorial."
Kovind said, "Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity are perennial principles of our philosophy of life. They come to us from the dawn of this civilization through an unbroken chain. It is, of course, the task of every generation to seek out the meaning of these values for its times. As the freedom fighters did in their day, so should we in our time. These key principles should light our path to development."
What did he say about the farmers?
The President said, "Every Indian salutes our farmers, who have made our vast and populous country self-reliant in food-grains and dairy products. Despite adversities of nature, numerous other challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, our farmers sustained the agricultural production. A grateful nation is fully committed to the welfare of our farmers."
Linking both the farmers and soldiers of the country, he said, the farmers ensure food security while the soldiers ensures security at the borders even in severe climate.
On Covid-19
The President while taking note of the situation exacerbated by Covid-19 said, "Last year, as humanity almost came to a halt in the face of a calamity of gigantic proportions, I often found myself reflecting on the central message of the Constitution."
Kovind added, "Our effective response to the pandemic would not have been possible without our Constitutional value of ‘Fraternity’. Indians have been like a close-knit family, making exemplary sacrifices to protect each other in the face of the common enemy of Coronavirus."
"I am thinking here of doctors, nurses, paramedics, healthcare administrators and sanitation workers who put their own lives at risk to care for Covid-19 patients. Some of them even lost their lives. Along with them, about 1.5 lakh people became victims of this pandemic. I convey my condolences to the bereaved families. Our frontline Corona-warriors were ordinary citizens who turned out to be extraordinary. When the history of this tragic chapter, which is not yet over, is written, I am confident that the future generations will behold you all for the heroic response to the crisis for which no one could have truly prepared," he added.
The president also mentioned Atma Nirbhar Bharat and National Education Policy, 2020 among other significant moves of the government led by PM Narendra Modi.
In the end he congratulated the people of India on the Republic day.