President-elect Droupadi Murmu, who hails from the tribal community took oath as the 15th President of India at the Parliament Central hall, on Monday. Droupadi Murmu was escorted by Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the Central Hall. She is the youngest person to take oath as the President of India.
Droupadi Murmu said, “Johar! Namaskar! I humbly greet all the fellow citizens from this sacred Parliament, a symbol of hopes, aspirations and rights of all citizens of India. Your affection, trust and support will be my greatest strength in discharging my functions and responsibilities.”
She added that she was honoured to take charge at a time India is completing 75 years of Independence.
Droupadi Murmu scripted history after defeating opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha to become the 1st tribal and the second woman to hold the top constitutional post. She took the oath to head the highest constitutional post of the country, followed by a 21-gun salute. Former president Ram Nath Kovind, outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, India’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were present for the grand ceremony.
The Chief Minister of Ms Murmu’s home state Odisha- Naveen Patnaik, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and MPs from all parties were present for the swearing-in ceremony.
First Droupadi Murmu visited Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, and she paid her respects to the Father of the Nation. Later she met outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and first lady Savita Kovind.