Swearing-in Live | India is Diverse Yet United: President Kovind
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- “It is an honour to be the President of India,” Ram Nath Kovind says in first official address after taking oath
- Ram Nath Kovind takes oath as the 14th President of India in the Central Hall of Parliament
- Before heading to Parliament for swearing in, Kovind pays homage at Rajghat to Mahatma Gandhi
- Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have been adjourned for Kovind’s oath-taking ceremony
Making history as the first occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan from the BJP, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday pledged to always follow the basic mantra of the Constitution to ensure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Elected to the highest constitutional office last week, Kovind was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar at a brief but glittering ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament before a gathering of MPs, Chief Ministers and diplomats.
Taking oath in the name of God, Kovind pledged to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law" and devoted himself to the services and well-being of the people of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers, opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda attended the event.
Kovind's Village Celebrates
Kovind Delivers His First Presidential Address
In his first address after being sworn in as the 14th President of India, Ram Nath Kovind said:
He further said:
Praising India’s democracy, Kovind said:
Ram Nath Kovind greets the Indian ministers, parliamentarians and members of opposition as the new President of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets his congratulations to President Kovind after the oath-taking ceremony.
Watch Kovind's Swearing-in Ceremony Live:
Elaborate Ceremony Starts with a Gentle Knock
The elaborate ceremony for change of guard in India's highest Constitutional office started on Tuesday with a gentle knock on the door of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind's Akbar Road residence.
The two leaders then went to the grand Rashtrapai Bhavan forecourt where they were escorted to the saluting dais.
Mukherjee took the last salute of the President's Bodyguard with President-elect Kovind standing to his left.
He and his successor then drove down Raisina Hill to the Central Hall of the Parliament in a black limousine. Escorting them was grand equestrian procession by the PBG, dressed in white ceremonial uniforms and blue turbans with gold ornamental work.
The road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament was lined with jawans of the armed forces.
The morning began with the president-elect offering floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Lok Sabha Adjourned
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm in view of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind's swearing-in.
Traditional Buggy Brought Out for Kovind
The traditional gold-plated presidential buggy, that had fallen out of tradition for at least 20 years until President Mukherjee brought it back, will take the outgoing President and the President-elect to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At one point of time, the buggy was used for all ceremonies, and even the President used to move around in it in his estate. But with security concerns rising over the years, the buggy fell into disuse.
In 2014, President Mukherjee warmed the seats of the buggy once again at the Beating Retreat ceremony instead of using his armoured limousine.
"We're Proud of Him," Say Kovind's Family
Over 70 friends and family members arrive at the Parliament ahead of his swearing-in. Speaking to ANI, they said that they’re extremely proud of Kovind.
Kovind Reaches Rajghat
President-elect Ram Nath Kovind reaches Rajghat, along with his wife Savita Kovind to pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi before heading to Rashtrapati Bhavan for his swearing-in ceremony.
Kovind, dressed in a black safari suit, paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation. The 71-year-old was also presented a Gandhi memento.
Kovind to Become India's 14th President Today
Ram Nath Kovind will take oath as India's 14th President on Tuesday at a ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament. He will first proceed to Rajghat to pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi and then go to Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will be received by Mukherjee before proceeding to Parliament.
The outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee and Kovind will arrive in the Central Hall in a ceremonial procession, where Kovind will be administered oath by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar.
Justice Khehar will be deemed the President in the seconds between Mukherjee stepping down and Kovind taking oath.
Watch outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee’s final address to the nation in the video below:
He will then exchange seats with Mukherjee. A 21-gun salute will be given in his honour and the new President will then deliver his address.
After the ceremony ends, the new President will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to him in its forecourt while Mukherjee will leave for his new address – 10 Rajaji Marg.
Kovind's Friends and Family Join Him on His Big Day
Eight members of the President-elect's family left for the national capital late on 24 July by the Shram Shakti Express to join Ram Nath Kovind on his oath-taking day.
Kovind's elder brother Pyarelal, sister-in-law Vidyavati, cousins Deepak, Pankaj, Shivkumar, Hemlata and Kamlesh, and Alok, the elder brother's son-in-law, will be present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Kovind's sister-in-law carried with her 'Rasiaur', a sweet dish made with rice and sugarcane juice, and 'Laddus', which are among Kovind's favourite foods. "I will also prepare 'Kadhi' in the Rashtrapati Bhavan as Kovind is very fond of it," Vidyawati said.
Kovind has also invited three of his friends – Satish Chandra Misra, Madhusudan Goel and Dr Jai Gopal – to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Kovind's School and College All Decked Up
Students, teachers and staff of the college where Ram Nath Kovind studied up to intermediate level are planning hearty celebrations on Tuesday when he will be sworn-in as the 14th President of India.
Thrilled over one of their own ascending to the top-most constitutional post in the country, the management of the BNSD Intermediate College in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur has decided to illuminate the premises and organise a community feast on Tuesday.
The college is also busy making preparations for a live telecast of the oath-taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for its enthusiastic students and staff members.
Principal RC Singh said the students and teachers would also distribute sweets in and outside the college. BJP activists will celebrate the day as the ‘Gaurav Diwas’ in the city, district unit president Surendra Maithani said.
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