Addressing the nation on the eve of its 73rd IndependenceDay, President Ram Nath Kovind said the Narendra Modi government’s recentdecision to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu & Kashmir into two Unionterritories would “immensely benefit those regions” and the locals would beable to “enjoy equal rights and facilities” like any other Indian.

The President also delivered a key message againstintolerance and hate-mongering, underlining that India has always lived by theorganising principle of live and let live. In the first Parliament session ofthe new Lok Sabha, the government brought a resolution to scrap Article 370 andsplit the state into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh. Thecontroversial Article 370 was scrapped by a presidential order signed byKovind. “I believe the recent changes carried out in Jammu and Kashmir andLadakh will be immensely beneficial for the citizens of the region,” Kovindsaid. The President added that these changes would enable the J&K people toenjoy rights, privileges and facilities on a par with the rest of the country.“These include progressive, egalitarian laws and provisions related to theRight to Education; accessing public information through the Right toInformation; reservations in education and employment and other facilities fortraditionally deprived communities,” he said.

He added that the triple talaq law would bring “justice forour daughters by abolishing unequal practices”. In a short but importantspeech, Kovind said “people should have the same expectations from and regardfor fellow citizens as we would expect them to have from and for us”.

He underlined that through the centuries, “India has rarelybeen a judgmental society. Rather, it has had an easy-going, live-and-let-liveorganising principle. We respect each other’s identity – whether born ofregion, language or faith; or even the absence of faith. India’s history anddestiny, India’s legacy and future, are a function of coexistence andconciliation, of reform and reconciliation – of expanding our hearts andembracing the ideas of others,” he said.The speech assumes significance ascaste violence has been reported in the past three months from across India,including Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The speech also touched on the need for betterinfrastructure to improve the lives of the people and economic growth. He urgedthe government to build financial infrastructure in the form of a transparentand inclusive banking system, an online-friendly tax system and easier accessto capital for legitimate entrepreneurs.“The government can build physicalinfrastructure in the form of housing for the poorest of the poor, andavailability of energy, toilets and water in every home. The government canbuild institutional infrastructure to address the paradox of floods andcalamities in some parts of the country, and water scarcity in other parts,” hesaid.The President congratulated lawmakers for a productive parliament sessionand said it is important as “the elected must be equal to the trust placed inthem by their electors” and also because nation building should be a continuousprocess.