India ‘Faced’ An Expansionist Move On Its Borders: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday paid tributes to farmers saying every Indian is grateful to them for ensuring food security and sought to allay fears of farmers over the three contentious farm laws in his address on the eve of the 72nd Republic Day . President also paid tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives at Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh last June during clashes with the Chinese troops. He said that the past year “was a time of adversity, and it came from many fronts. “We faced an expansionist move on our borders, but our valiant soldiers foiled it. To achieve this objective, 20 of them had to lay down their lives,” he added.
He also asserted that while India remains committed to peace, its armed forces are “adequately mobilised” in a “well-coordinated” move to thwart any attempt to undermine national security as he referred to the “expansionist” move by China in Ladakh last year.
On the country’s efforts to fight COVID-19, the President said an effective response to the pandemic would not have been possible without the Constitutional value of ‘Fraternity’ among the people of the country. He also took pride in the fact that India was called as “pharmacy of the world” for supplying medicine to several countries to contain sufferings across the globe.
Earlier, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu wished the people on the eve of Republic Day. “On this occasion we should reaffirm our commitment towards the Constitution and founding principles of our Republic based on the cherished ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice for all. Our Constitutional values are the basic principles for creation of an enlightened citizenship that is essential for deepening our democratic roots,” he said.
He further said that India is a country that is brimming with potential, surging ahead on the path of all round development that is inclusive and sustainable. “Our democracy is vibrant and our commitment to good governance and transparency is stronger than ever before. On this auspicious day, let us renew our pledge to uphold the country’s civilisational ideals and constitutional values and dedicate ourselves to building an inclusive, peaceful, harmonious and progressive India,” the vice president added.
