NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday strongly advocated for the ‘One Nation One Election‘ plan, saying the proposed reform “promises to redefine the terms of good governance“. She said it has the potential to promote “consistency in governance, prevent policy paralysis, mitigate resource diversion, and reduce financial burden” on the exchequer.
In her address to the nation on the eve of the 76th Republic Day, Murmu highlighted the reform measures being taken by the govt to weed out remanants of the “colonial mindset” that persisted even after Independence. “We won freedom in 1947, but many relics of a colonial mindset persisted among us for long. Of late, we have been witnessing concerted efforts to change that mindset,” Murmu said.
She cited the decision to replace the British-era criminal laws with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which are based on “Indian traditions of jurisprudence”.
Prez: ONOE can curb resource diversion, ease financial burden
Murmu went on to highlight that based also on “Indian traditions of jurisprudence”, the new criminal laws place the delivery of justice instead of punishment at the centre of the criminal justice system.
“Reforms of such magnitude require an audacity of vision,” Murmu asserted. “Another measure that promises to redefine the terms of good governance is the bill introduced in Parliament to synchronise election schedules in the country,” she added. “The ‘One Nation One Election’ plan can promote consistency in governance, prevent policy paralysis, mitigate resource diversion, and reduce the financial burden, apart from offering many other benefits,” Murmu said.
Murmu spoke of a fresh engagement with “our civilisational heritage” as she drew attention to the ongoing Mahakumbh and said that it can be seen as an “expression of the richness of that heritage”. She highlighted the govt’s decision recognising Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit as classical languages.
Reflecting on 75 years of the Constitution, Murmu said it is marked by an all-round progress of a young republic. “At the time of Independence and even later, large parts of the country had faced extreme poverty and also hunger. But one thing we were not deprived of was our belief in ourselves. India’s economy today influences the global economic trends. India is taking leadership positions in international forums,” she said. “The Constitution has become a living document because civic virtues have been part of our moral compass for millennia. For 75 years now, it has guided the path of our progress,” Murmu asserted as she expressed gratitude to Dr B R Ambedkar, who chaired the drafting committee. The President also pointed to the high economic growth rate of recent years and inclusive welfare measures like making basic necessities such as housing and access to clean drinking water entitlements for citizens.
She also referred to efforts made to support marginalised communities, particularly those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). She lauded the innovative use of technology in finance, noting that digital payment systems and direct benefit transfers have enhanced transparency and inclusion. “The banking system has been in a healthy condition after a series of bold measures such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, effecting a substantial reduction in the Non-Performing Assets of Scheduled Commercial Banks,” Murmu said. In her address, Murmu also reflected on India’s growing success in sports.
“The achievements in the sports during the year 2024 were capped by D Gukesh, who became the youngest World Chess Champion,” she added.
Reflecting on India’s historical journey, she urged citizens to remember the brave souls who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s freedom, highlighting the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda, whose contributions to the freedom movement are now receiving due recognition.
