The Budget Session of Parliament began today with strict observance of restrictions for coronavirus and President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the members of both Houses seated in three locations.
President congratulated the Central government for its “timely decision” to implement lockdown as it “saved the lives of lakhs of citizens”, and pointed out that the number of new coronavirus cases was going down rapidly in the country. President Kovind, in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, also paid tribute to those who succumbed due to the virus.
“Joint sitting of Parliament amid Corona pandemic is essential. It’s a new year, a new decade and we are also entering into the 75th year of independence. Today all MPs are present here with a message and trust that however tough be the challenge neither we nor India will stop. In this fight against the pandemic, we lost many citizens. Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in this Corona period. Six MPs left us untimely due to COVID. I pay my tribute to all of them,” he said. “I am satisfied that the timely decision taken by my Government saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. Today the number of new COVID cases is going down rapidly. The number of recoveries is very high,” he added.
Commenting upon the vaccination drive against COVID-19 which started on January 26, President Kovind said, “It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination program in the world. Both vaccines of this program are made in India. In this crisis, India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind and provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations.”