Budget Session 2021: President Ram Nath Kovind addressed a joint sitting of parliament.
New Delhi:
The government will respect the Supreme Court’s decision on the farmer protests and is trying to tackle misgivings over farm laws at the root of the agitation, President Ram Nath Kovind today told parliament.
Addressing a joint sitting of parliament on the opening day of the Budget session, the President also condemned the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally by farmers in Delhi.
“Farmers recently carried out a tractor rally. However, there was violence during the protests and there were incidents of insulting that national flag at Red Fort on Republic Day. This was very unfortunate,” President Kovind said.
“Our constitution, for which we celebrate our Republic Day, tells us about the freedoms we enjoy, but it also tells us our responsibility as citizens to ensure that having respect for the law and maintaining order is our duty.”
On the farm laws, put on hold by the Supreme Court recently, he said the government would respect the court decision, but also defended the move. The laws were passed after extensive deliberations, he said.
“Today there are more than 80 per cent small farmers, who number over 10 crore. Because of the three important farm laws, these small farmers are starting to benefit from reforms,” said President Kovind.
