New Delhi,
In his first address to the joint sitting of Parliament today, President Ram Nath Kovind backed the pending anti-instant triple talaq Bill and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “one nation, one election” proposal, besides lauding the government’s commitment to “empowerment, and not appeasement”.

The Budget Session commenced today with the President’s address and the Houses were adjourned till February 1 after the tabling of the Economic Survey.

In his 45-minute address devoted mainly to the BJP dispensation’s pro-women, pro-poor and pro-farmer measures, Kovind spoke of nation building as a collective effort, urging leaders to display “exemplary conduct”.

He said: “For decades, the dignity of Muslim women has remained captive to political cost benefit. Now, the nation has an opportunity to emancipate them. My government has tabled a Bill on triple talaq in Parliament. I hope the Parliament will soon pass the Bill into a law. The law will enable Muslim women to live a life of self-respect with courage.”

Underlining BJP’s “minority empowerment and not appeasement”, he mentioned removal of restrictions on Muslim women over 45 years to undertake Haj pilgrimage without the company of male relatives.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu read out parts of Kovind’s speech in English.

He said, “Citizens are concerned about frequent elections… which adversely impact the economy and development… A sustained debate is required on the subject of simultaneous elections and all political parties need to arrive at a consensus on the issue.”

Listing schemes for women (26-week paid maternity benefit, toilet construction, cooking gas delivery, Beti Bachao), farmers and poor, Kovind stressed the goods and services tax (GST) law as the single most important economic reform since Independence.

While he underlined India’s massive jump on the Ease of Doing Business rankings–inviting tremendous applause–he skipped any reference whatsoever to demonetisation. Close on the heels of a trial court acquitting DMK leaders in the 2G Spectrum scam, the President also flagged that there were only two mobile phone companies in 2014 (when the UPA was in power), but there are 113 now.

On national security, he defended the government saying: “There has been significant improvement in internal security of the country… terrorist violence in J&K interiors is directly related to cross-border infiltration.”