Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that former President Ram Nath Kovind has left behind a legacy during which the country’s Constitution was “trampled upon” as he “fulfilled BJP’s political agenda”.
“The outgoing President leaves behind a legacy where the Indian Constitution was trampled upon umpteenth times. Be it scrapping of Article 370, CAA or the unabashed targeting of minorities & Dalits, he fulfilled BJPs political agenda at the cost of the Indian Constitution,” Mufti tweeted.
The tweet came soon after Kovind demitted office on Monday after completing his five-year tenure.
Droupadi Murmu was on Monday sworn in as India’s 15th President at a ceremony in the packed and historic Central Hall of Parliament.
She is the second woman President of the country, the first-ever tribal woman to hold the highest Constitutional post and the first President to be born in independent India.
Last week, Ram Nath Kovind urged parties to shun partisan politics to deliberate on what is essential for people’s welfare with the spirit of “nation first” and said citizens should use Gandhian means to express opposition and pursue demands.
During the farewell event, the president said,” As in any family, Parliament has at times differences and different political parties may have different views on the way forward. But we are all members of this parliamentary family whose top priority is to work continuously in the interest of the giant family which is our nation.”
His comments assumed significance as the Opposition’s vocal protests over a number of issues in both Houses of Parliament led to forced adjournments amid the ongoing Monsoon session.
Different parts of the country have also witnessed protests, at times violent, at different points of time.
“Parties must rise above partisan politics and deliberate on what is essential for the citizens’ development and welfare with the spirit of ‘nation first’,” the then-outgoing president said.
Meanwhile, whether or not Ram Nath Kovind will share a response to Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism, remains to be seen.