Describing the Constitution as "Gita, Quran, Ramayan and Bible" all rolled into one, NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind today said he would always strive to maintain its supremacy after he is elected to the post. Addressing MPs and MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the BJP as part of his election campaign in Andhra Pradesh, Kovind said the Constitution was the only guide book by which a president was supposed to work.
"I will always strive for the all-round development of the nation, to fulfil the aspirations of the youths and for the development of modern education. For a president, the Constitution is supreme. It is the Gita, Ramayana, Quran and Bible. It is very important to maintain and uphold the supremacy of our Constitution," Kovind noted.
"The president also happens to be the supreme commander of the armed forces. Security of our international borders should be our topmost priority," he added.
"For a president, the well-being of every citizen of the country, every section of the society, irrespective of the caste, creed, region, religion or geographical location, is most important.
"We have to fulfil the dream of a New India by 2022 when we will be celebrating the completion of 75 years of our independence," the 71-year-old former Bihar governor said. He expressed gratitude to the NDA and other parties that have supported his candidature for the top constitutional post for the election for which will be held on July 17.
Speaking at the event, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu rejected the Congress' claim that the presidential election was a contest of ideologies.
"It is a false political propaganda they are indulging in. What is their ideology? Is imposing Emergency and jailing opposition leaders and stifling the media your ideology?" Venkaiah asked.
Asserting that the NDA nominee would win the presidential election with a significant majority, the Union minister said, "We are united, they are divided. We are confident, they are diffident."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said Kovind's elevation as President would enhance the pride and prestige of the country. "We are very happy to support such an intellectual," he said.
Union ministers P Ashok Gajapati Raju, Y S Chowdary, BJP national general secretary Muralidhar Rao, state ministers, MPs and legislators attended the event.
Earlier, Kovind was received at the airport by the chief minister.
The NDA candidate garlanded a bust-sized statue of TDP founder N T Rama Rao and offered floral tributes.
He also offered floral tributes to freedom fighter Alluri Sitaramaraju on his birth anniversary.
