NEW DELHI: Getting rid of the “mentality of slavery” and the thrust on “reform, perform and transform” are likely to be the central themes of the President’s address at the joint sitting of Parliament ahead of the budget session.TOI has learnt that different ministries have been asked to give their inputs based on these themes for the President’s speech. People in the know of the development said an informal group of ministers is holding deliberations on this agenda.They added that the themes have been chosen considering govt targets’ focus to achieve the goal of a developed nation by undertaking major reforms to push growth.Removing traces of colonialism has become the talking point for the government since Aug 15, 2022, when PM Narendra Modi spoke about it from the ramparts of the Red Fort. This was also one of the five pledges (Panch Pran). “When we see even the smallest thing related to colonialism in us or around us, we have to be rid of it… Indians should shed ‘colonialism’ from their minds and habits,” Modi had said.Last week, speaking at the Veer Baal Diwas programme, the PM had said that by 2035, people will ensure that the nation is completely “free from the mentality of slavery”. He has increasingly invoked the theme of colonialism and the need to shed its lingering impact on the national psyche and development. Construction of the new Parliament building, changing the name of Rajpath to Kartavya Path and shifting the seat of power from the South and North Blocks are also being seen as part of this government’s bigger plan to put an end to the colonial past.Similarly, the government has projected that the economic growth and improved ranking in ease of doing business are results of its agenda of reforms.Officials said that while the ministries will share the steps they have taken so far, they will also provide some details of the future steps to improve ease of living and doing business.
