New Delhi: Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as India’s 15th President in the Central Hall of Parliament on Monday. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice NV Ramana administered the oath of office to her in the presence of outgoing President Ramnath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Besides, governors, chief ministers of various states, heads of diplomatic missions, Members of Parliament and military officers were present on the occasion. Kovind along with Murmu arrived at the Central Hall in a ceremonial procession. In her first address to the nation, Murmu paid tribute to the freedom fighters of the country and remembered the contribution of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in the country’s fight against the British empire. Murmu who was first woman Governor of Jharkhand had to struggle to reach the top post of the country. She began her career as a teacher.
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Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skipped the oath-taking ceremony of Murmu in the national capital. Defending Kumar’s absence, head of the Parliamentary Board of the Janata Dal (United) Upendra Kushwaha said that the Chief Minister is not bound to attend all the events. JD (U) supported Murmu in the presidential election. During Murmu’s visit to Patna, Kumar said that his party would support her.
Kushwaha said that since Kumar had a lot of commitments in Bihar, he could not attend the oath-taking ceremony of the President.
