Pranab Mukherjee took oath as India’s 13th president at an impressive ceremony full of pomp and pageantry in the Central Hall of parliament here Wednesday.
Mukherjee was administered the oath by the Chief Justice of India S.H Kapadia.
Mukherjee, who won the July 19 presidential poll, takes over from Pratibha Patil and will be the new occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Pranab Mukherjee in his first speech after his swearing-in said he would in keeping with his high office strive to rise above partisan interests in the service of the people.
Saying he was deeply moved by the high honour bestowed on him, President Mukherjee said as president he would strive to preserve, protect and guard the constitution “not just in spirit but all across the divide of party and region”.
President-elect Pranab Mukherjee paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi by visiting their memorial before being sworn in as India’s 13th president Wednesday.
Dressed in a formal black achkan and churidar, Mukherjee visited Rajghat, Shanti Van as well as Shakti Sthal and Veer Bhumi.
He will be sworn in as president at 11.30 a.m. at the Central Hall of parliament.
Due to security reasons, government offices around Parliament House will remain shut during the first half of Wednesday. Commuter services at three Delhi Metro stations – Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Khan Market – was suspended from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“The Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations on Line-2 from HUDA City Centre, Gurgaon, to Jahangirpuri and Khan Market station on Line-6 from Central Secretariat to Badarpur will remain closed for public from 9-11 a.m.,” a Delhi Metro statement said.
