President for debate on simultaneous LS, Assembly polls
31 Jan 2017 7:34 AM GMT
President Pranab Mukherjee today favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power.The Government, he said, is also committed to combating terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice.
In his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the opening of the Budget session, Mukherjee referred to the government's demonetisation decision to fight blackmoney and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members.
"Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupt normal public life and impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged period of election duty."My government welcomes a constructive debate on simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Funding of elections to eradicate misuse of money power also needs to be debated," he said.
In the speech, which is the Government's narrative on what it had done during the year and what it plans to do in the new financial year, the President said Government would welcome any decision taken by Election Commission in this regard after consultations. .
Parliament's budget session historic: President
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the Budget Session of Parliament was historic as it heralded the advancement of the budget cycle as also the merger of the railway budget with general budget."This is a historic session heralding the advancement of the budget cycle and merger of the railway budget with general budget for the first time in independent India," said Mukherjee addressing members of both the houses.
"We gather once again to celebrate democracy and cherished value and culture that has prospered through out the long history of our country. A culture that guides my governmnet towards 'sabka saath sabka vikas'," he added. The budget will be presented on Wednesday.The session will take a break from February 9, reconvene on March 9 and end on April 12.
Government will welcome EC decision on simultaneous polls: President
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government will welcome any decision taken by the Election Commission on simultaneous polls to the assemblies and Lok Sabha, in consultation with political parties.Addressing the joint session of the two houses of Parliament at the start of Budget Session, the President said the proposal of simultaneous polls needs to be debated as a move towards eradication of money power in elections."My government will welcome any decision by the Election Commission after consulting the political parties," the President added.
Farmer-oriented schemes resulted in increase of crop yield: President
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the "favourable monsoon" supplemented by "farmer-oriented schemes" of the government has resulted in increased crop yields."A favourable monsoon supplemented by farmer-oriented schemes has increased the acreage and yield of most Kharif crops," Mukherjee said while addressing the joint session of the two houses of parliament here.
"The sown area in the current Rabi season has shown six per cent increase in comparison to last year," Mukherjee said.
The President also said: "My Government has taken various steps to transform the lives of our farmers."
"Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana expanded ambit of risk-coverage, doubled sum insured and facilitated lowest-ever premium," he said.
"Three crore Kisan Credit Cards will be converted into Rupay debit cards soon," Mukherjee added.
Rs 2 lakh crore provided for micro entrepreneurial units: President
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government has provided over Rs 2 lakh crore for the development and refinancing of micro entrepreneurial units under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.Addressing the joint session of the two houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session, the President said that core of the government's policies was welfare of the poor, Dalits, farmers, labourers and the youth.
"Social and economic equality for deprived sections is the first promise of our constitution, our government is committed to fulfil it," Mukherjee said.
He also hailed the government for its Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana launched for promoting entrepreneurship education and training for seven lakh students.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme has been launched with a budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, he said.
"My government salutes the strength of janashakti (people's power) and pledges to constructively utilise it in Rashtra Nirman (nation building)," Mukherjee added.
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