India's Kovind praises notes ban, GST

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind yesterday pitched for a partnership between citizens and the government to create a 'New India' by 2022 that is a "compassionate society" and includes the "humanist component integral to the nation's DNA".

In his maiden address to the nation on the eve of 71st Independence Day, Kovind recalled the role of leaders of Independence struggle including Jawaharlal Nehru. He said that the generation that brought us to freedom was diverse and included men and women from all parts of the country with a variety of "political and social thought".

Asking people to draw inspiration from freedom fighters, the President said that there was a need to invoke the same spirit today for nation building.

 "The stress on the moral basis of policy and action, belief in unity and discipline, faith in a synthesis of heritage and science, and promotion of the rule of law and of education — all of it is located in a partnership between citizen and government," he said.

Kovind said that is how India has been built — by a partnership between citizen and government, between individual and society, between a family and the wider community.

 "Today, in big cities we may not even know our neighbours. Whether in cities or villages, it is important to renew that sense of caring and sharing. This will make us a gentler and happier society and help us understand each other with greater empathy," he said.