13/09/2023-Bharat Today Current Affairs

President has accepted the resignation of Shri V. Shanmuganathan, as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

27 JAN 2017

The President has accepted the resignation of Shri V. Shanmuganathan, as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

The President of India is pleased to appoint Shri BanwarilalPurohit, Governor of Assam to discharge the functions of the Governor of Meghalaya and Shri PadmanabhaBalakrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland to discharge the functions of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, in addition to their own duties, until regular arrangements for the offices of the Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are made.

President Pranab Mukherjee condoles the passing away of Shri Surjit Singh BarnalaPosted On: 15 Jan 2017

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala.

In a message to his wife, Smt. Surjit Kaur Barnala, the President has said, “I am sad to learn about the passing away of your husband, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, a colleague and friend for long years.

Shri Barnala was a distinguished Statesman, Parliamentarian and able administrator who served the nation with great distinction in various capacities such as Chief Minister of Punjab and Governor of several states. He also served with distinction as member of the Union Council of Ministers, having handled portfolios of Agriculture and Chemical and fertilisers. He will be always remembered for the strong stance he took against the forces of extremism and the struggle he waged against terrorists and anti national forces in our country.

In his passing away, the nation has lost a patriot and a public figure who made important contribution to the maintaining of the unity and integrity of our country as well as its comprehensive development.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences and convey them to all other members of your family. May God give you and your family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss”.

Speech by President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the banquet hosted in honour his excellency Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, The President of the Republic of Kenya

Date: 12 Jan 2017

Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta,

Honourable Ministers from Kenya,

Distinguished Guests,

Namaskar!

Habari Ya Jioni!

Mr. President,

We are delighted to welcome you today.

Not so long ago, in October last year, I had the pleasure of welcoming you to the Rashtrapati Bhavan when you participated in the Third India-Africa Forum Summit hosted in New Delhi.

Your State Visit to India this year, the first State Visit from Kenya since February 1981, reflects a new momentum in our bilateral co-operation.

The initiatives announced during Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s State Visit to Kenya last July and your current visit will go a long way in strengthening our long standing affinities and enhancing our ties in the diverse areas of our common interest.

Excellency,

You have experienced the famed hospitality of the vibrant State of Gujarat. Of course, the enterprising people of this ‘Jewel of Western India’ are no strangers to you. Over the centuries, the Muhindi in Kenya have been a bridge between our two countries – and today, they are as much a part of your society as your own tribes: they are even referred to as the 43rd  tribe of Kenya! Their active involvement in almost every sector of Kenya’s economy bears testimony to their dedication to your great country.

Excellency,

Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding President of Kenya, was an esteemed friend of the leaders of India’s Freedom movement. During his famous Kapenguria trial in Kenya, independent India’s first Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, had despatched Diwan Chaman Lal, an eminent lawyer, to represent and defend him in court.   Over the years, this mutual regard and understanding have deepened and evolved into a close relationship. We have made substantial progress in every sphere of our cooperation. Today,  India is one of Kenya’s leading trade partners and second largest foreign investor. The presence of more than forty premier Indian companies in Kenya bears testimony to the complementarities of our two economies. India welcomes Kenyan business houses to explore the opportunities that our flagship schemes offer for partnerships and investments in our country.

Excellency,

Under your visionary leadership, Kenya has become one of the fastest growing economies of Eastern Africa. It has established itself as a hub for financial, commercial, tourist and transportation services. India remains committed to her developmental partnership with Kenya. India’s Technical and Economic Co-operation programme and our training and scholarship initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit have benefited many young Kenyans. India stands ready to assist Kenya further in her human resource development and capacity building efforts.

In our discussions this evening, we shared a sense of satisfaction at our flourishing people-to-people contacts. This year, Indians represented the third largest tourist inflow into Kenya. Your beautiful country’s pristine beaches on the Indian Ocean and famed wild-life parks have always been major attractions. In turn, Kenyans favour India for business, education, medical treatment and also tourism. India has recently held the first-ever Festival of India in Kenya- Urafiki Utsav –  which was very well received. We look forward to hosting a Festival of Kenya in India; and we anticipate that before long, Kenyan food like ‘Ugaali’ and ‘Sukuma’ Wiki will be popular in India as well!

It is for these reasons, Excellency, that India believes that as two old friends, and as developing nations with a ‘young’ population, there is much that we can do to build on our synergies.

In the 21st century, India looks forward to working with Kenya to fulfill the many shared aspirations of our respective peoples and contribute to global peace and stability. I have learned of a Swahili proverb saying – Shikamana kama pete na kidole , meaning, we must hold together like the finger and the ring.  Let this ancient adage inspire our joint efforts.

With these words, Mr. President, I wish you and your distinguished delegation a very fruitful visit to India.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I request you to join me in raising a toast:-

·      to the health and success of the President of Kenya, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta;

·      to the progress and prosperity of the people of Kenya, our neighbours across the Indian Ocean; and

·      to the everlasting friendship between India and Kenya.

Thank you !

President of India condoles the passing away of Shri Om Puri: 07 Jan 2017

In a message to his son, Shri Ishaan Puri, the President has said, “I am sad to learn about the passing away of your father, Shri Om Puri.

A veteran and iconic actor, Shri Om Puri delighted fans all over the world with his masterful screen presence and performance. For his contribution to Indian Cinema, he was honoured with numerous awards including the prestigious ‘Padma Shri’ in the year 1990. In the passing away of Shri Om Puri, the Indian film industry has lost a highly talented and acclaimed actor who played memorable roles in numerous movies.  He shall always be remembered for his powerful and versatile acting, which brought life into the celluloid characters he played in films.  His sad demise has left a huge void in the field of Indian film industry, which will be difficult to fill.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences and convey them to all members of your family. I pray to the Almighty to give your family and you the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss”.

President of India,  Pranab Mukherjee delivered New Year Message to the Governors/Lt. Governors  (January 5, 2017)

My dear Governors and Lt. Governors:

1- Let me begin by extending warm greetings and best wishes to you for a year full of peace, prosperity and happiness.

2- The year that has just gone by was a year of mixed fortunes. It began on a very promising note with the economy performing well, overcoming the weak global economic trends. GDP growth of 7.2 percent in the first half of 2016-17 – same as that of last year – is a pointer to the fact that our economic recovery has been on solid grounds. In 2014 and 2015, below normal rains had caused rural distress. A good monsoon in 2016 is expected to improve agricultural production and increase rural employment and incomes. Though our exports have been affected by weak global demand, we have a stable external sector. Reviving exports will remain a challenge but we can overcome it by improving the competitiveness of the domestic industry.

3- Demonetization, while immobilizing black money and fighting corruption, may lead to temporary slowdown of the economy. We all will have to be extra careful to alleviate the suffering of the poor which might become unavoidable for the expected progress in the long term. While I appreciate the thrust on transition from entitlement approach to an entrepreneurial one for poverty alleviation, I am not too sure that the poor can wait that long. They need to get succour here and now, so that they can also participate actively in the national march towards a future devoid of hunger, unemployment and exploitation. The recent package announced by the Prime Minister will provide some relief.

Hon’ble Governors and Lt. Governors:

4- This year, there will be elections in as many as seven states. The dates for elections in five states have already been announced. The conduct of free and fair elections has made our democracy one of the most vibrant in the world. Elections reflect the attitudes, values and beliefs of the people towards their political environment. They symbolize the sovereignty of the people and provide legitimacy to the authority of the government. They also serve the purpose of regulation of public policies and mobilization of public opinion.

5- As we have all experienced, elections are usually marked by competitive populism, electoral rhetoric and vote bank politics. Noisy debates can deepen the fault-lines in the society. You, as Governors and Lt. Governors, command respect and attention of the people of your state. Through your interaction and wise counsel, you can play an important role in easing the tensions in the society. Goodwill must prevail between different communities. At times, harmony may be put to test by vested interests. Communal tensions may rear their ugly head. Rule of law must form the sole basis of dealing with any such challenging situation.

Governors and Lt. Governors:

6- In a pluralistic democracy like ours, tolerance, respect for contrary views and patience are a must. These values have to be preserved. India is a multi-faceted nation of 1.3 billion people, 122 languages, 1600 dialects and 7 religions. In the words of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru which I quote: “It is a country held together by strong but invisible threads” (unquote). India’s strength lies in her diversity. The multiplicity in culture, faith and language is what makes India special. There will always be divergent strands in public discourse. We may argue. We may disagree. But we cannot deny the prevalence of multiplicity of opinion. You can, through your calm influence, inculcate amongst the citizens of your state this fundamental ethos of our civilization.

Hon’ble Governors and Lt. Governors:

7- You are the first citizens of your states. When you assumed this exalted office, you had taken an oath to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution. This pious document protects the liberty of the people and promotes the well-being of the citizens. It decrees inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our polity. Our institutions of democracy must operate on these vital features. Strong credible institutions lead to good governance ensuring a healthy functioning of the democracy.

Dear Governors and Lt. Governors:

8- You all have a very important role to play in the improvement of higher education in your states. As chancellors and visitors of various universities, you can work with the academic leaders to effect holistic changes for quality up-gradation in the institutions of higher learning. I have been exhorting the academia to concentrate on attaining excellence through original research and technology development. A look at numerous social problems affecting millions of women and men in our farms and factories clearly shows that humane values have not yet become a dominant driver of our intellectual pursuits. This should receive your focused attention. Our interactions at the conferences at Rashtrapati Bhavan have yielded several positives in areas like: faculty sourcing and development; ICT for pedagogic refinement; research and innovation; industry-academia interface; and alumni involvement. I am aware of the good work being done by many of you in this field. Interaction amongst academic institutions can help spread best practices. These institutions can leverage knowledge and experience to the benefit of all. Your keen interest can rejuvenate a sector that is best positioned to support an innovation-led knowledge economy.

9- Another area where I envisage a role for you is in promoting art and culture in your respective states. As I have said elsewhere, art and culture are our link with the past. They provide the foundation for our current thought and by extension, the platform for our future action. They also provide a stable base to life and make it possible for us to have a joyous existence. With art and culture, we can experience life in its fullest and most meaningful form. They add to the overall happiness and well-being of the society.

Hon’ble Governors and Lt. Governors:

10- Before I conclude, I express my deep appreciation to you all for coming together on this platform for our interaction. Within the limited time available, let us share some of our key concerns. I do look forward to our extended interface in the Governor’s Conference, when we will have the time to hear each one of us in detail.

Thank you.

Jai Hind.