Verghese V Joseph –
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) congratulated President Draupadi Murmu on taking oath as the 15th President of India.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, on behalf of CBCI, said, “The Catholic Church is confident that President Murmu coming from a tribal background will understand very well the joys and hopes, the dreams and aspirations of the tribal communities across India.”
“As head of the state of the world’s largest democracy, President Murmu has a very significant role to play. The Catholic Church prays that with her vision, commitment and leadership she will do our country proud,” the prelate added.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana at a swearing-in ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. Former president Ram Nath Kovind, outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were present at the ceremony.
Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of President Murmu’s home state Odisha, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and MPs from all parties also attended the event.
Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament after taking the oath, President Murmu said, “My election is proof that the poor in the country can have dreams and also fulfil them.”
She said getting a primary education was a dream for her and added that she would focus on welfare of the marginalised.
Addressing the country’s youth, she appealed that they work towards laying the foundation of the country’s future, besides building their own. “As president, you have my full support,” she added.
President Murmu, 64, scripted history on Thursday after defeating opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha to become the first tribal and the second woman to hold the top constitutional post.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu was the first woman to be sworn in as Jharkhand Governor in 2015. A two-time BJP MLA from Odisha, she was a minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet when the Biju Janata Dal or BJD ruled the state with BJP’s support.
(Photo caption: The Chief Justice of India, Shri Justice N.V. Ramana administering the oath of the office of the President of India to Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at a swearing-in ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament, in New Delhi on July 25, 2022. PIB photo)