Addressing the first joint session of parliament after the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha, president Droupadi Murmu said she was confident that every moment of Parliament will be fully utilised and public interest will be given priority.

“Achievements of the nation are determined by our sincerity in discharging our responsibilities. … You all know that the present times are very favourable for India in every way. In the coming years the decisions taken and policies framed by the Government and the Parliament of India will be keenly watched by the whole world. It is the responsibility of every Member of Parliament as well as of the Government, to ensure the country gets utmost benefits during this favourable period,” she said.

“With the reforms that have taken place in the last 10 years and the new confidence that has been infused in the country, we have gained a new momentum to make India a developed nation. We all need to always remember that making India a developed nation is the aspiration and resolve of every citizen of the country. All of us are responsible for ensuring that no obstacles come in the way of achieving this resolution,” she added.

Opposition of policies and obstruction of parliamentary functioning are two different things, the president told the members, adding that “When Parliament conducts its business smoothly, when healthy deliberations take place here, when far-reaching decisions are taken, then the people repose confidence not only in the Government but also in the entire system.”

Quoting the messages of the Vedas, “Samano Mantrah Samitih Samani” (‘We work together with a common idea and goal’), she said, “This is the very spirit of this Parliament. Therefore, when India becomes the third largest economy, you will also be partners in this achievement. When we celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Independence in 2047 as a developed India, this generation will also get credit.”

President Murmu said: “This century is India's century, and its impact will last for a thousand years to come. Let us all together, with full devotion to our duties, get actively involved in fulfilling national resolutions and make India a developed nation.”