The people of India have given a mandate to continue with the country's development journey that started in 2014, President Ram Nath Kovind said in his Parliament speech on Thursday.
In his address to a joint session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Parliament’s central hall, Kovind said the Narendra Modi government is moving ahead to create a strong, secure and inclusive India, adding that the government’s pension scheme for farmers and small traders will help them live a life of dignity.
"After the assessment of the government's first tenure, the people have given it a bigger mandate this time," he said. By doing so, the people have given a mandate to accelerate the development process initiated in 2014, he added.
The President’s Parliament speech is a custom after formation of a new Lok Sabha.
Over 61 crore people voted in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a record, and women came out in large numbers ot exercise their franchise, Kovind said while commending the Election Commission for holding the largest democratic exercise in the world.
A record 78 women have been elected as members of the Lok Sabha—the highest ever—and almost half of the elected members are first timers, the President said.
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