New Delhi: Addressing the nation on the eve of demiting office as the 13th President of the Republic of India, Pranab Mukherjee on Monday termed Parliament as his ‘Temple’ and the Indian Constitution as his ‘Holy Book’.
“I have received much more from the country than I have given; for that, I will remain ever indebted to the people of India,” the President said. “How successful I was in discharging my responsibilities will be judged, over time, by the critical lens of history,” he added.
“We must free our public discourse from all forms of violence, physical as well as verbal,” the outgoing President said.
“For development to be real, the poorest of the land must feel that they are a part of the nation’s narrative,” he said further.
Mukherjee also thanked Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for arranging a farewell programme at the Central Hall of the Parliament yesterday.
The President wished the very best to the new President of the country Ramnath Kovind.
Ms Kalinga