Srinagar- President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the abrogation of Article 370, which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir, freed the nation from a political obstacle.
She added that the change opened access to government jobs, property rights and social welfare schemes that were previously restricted, removing barriers that kept many educated and talented individuals from entering administration.
Speaking at the Constitution Day event in the Central Hall of the Old Parliament building, now called Samvidhan Sadan, President Droupadi Murmu said Parliament has taken several significant steps in the last decade to meet the aspirations of the people.
She said the Constitution is the cornerstone of India’s identity and a document that guides the country away from a colonial mindset toward a national vision. “Our Constitution is a document of national pride. It reflects the identity of the nation and guides our path forward,” she said.
Murmu said this vision is reflected in the adoption of the new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which replaced colonial era statutes and came into effect on July 1, 2024. She said the Constitution makers wanted personal and democratic rights to remain protected for all citizens.
The president also cited the ban on triple talaq and the rollout of GST as major reforms that strengthened women’s rights and financial stability. She said India is progressing quickly toward becoming the world’s third largest economy and noted that 25 crore people have risen out of poverty. Women, youth, farmers, SC and ST communities and the middle class, she added, are strengthening the democratic fabric.
Murmu released the digital version of the Constitution in nine regional languages Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Bodo, Kashmiri, Telugu, Odia and Assamese, calling it a step toward greater public access and awareness. The event also included a collective reading of the Preamble.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Speaker Om Birla, Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers and MPs attended the programme. A commemorative booklet featuring calligraphy from the original Constitution was also released.
Hgh Voter Turnout In J&k Spoke For India’s Democracy: VP
Meanwhile Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday said that the high voter turnout in the Assembly election last year in Jammu and Kashmir made the world understand “our faith in democracy”.
The Vice President made the remarks during his address at the Central Hall of the Old Parliament building in New Delhi on the occasion of Constitution Day celebration.
The event was presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from both the houses present on the occasion.
VP Radhakrishnan said that no democracy can survive without the conscious contribution of the citizen. “In India, every citizen, whether they are rich or poor, always contributes to strengthen the democracy,” he said.
He added that during the elections held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024 after the abrogation of Article 370, the voter turnout in large number made the world to understand “our faith in democracy”.
He further said that in the recently held Bihar elections, voter turnout, particularly that of women in large numbers, is a very healthy sign.
“Our Constitution was drafted, debated, and adopted by some of the finest leaders of India in the Constituent Assembly. It embodies the collective wisdom, sacrifice, and dreams of millions of our countrymen who fought for freedom,” he said.
The Vice President said that the great scholars of the drafting committee and members of the Constituent Assembly gave insightful thoughts to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of crores & crores of Indians.
The Constitution Day program was organised on the occasion of the 75th Constitution Day. President Murmu, who presided over the event, also released digital editions of the Constitution in Kashmir and eight other languages – Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Bodo, Telugu, Odia and Assamese.
