President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the nation on the eve of India's 66th Republic Day. (Video Courtesy: DD News)



Here are the highlights:



• Convey my special greetings to member of armed forces, paramilitary forces and other security forces.

• 26th January holds an everlasting place in our national memory.

• After three decades, the people have voted to power a single party for a stable government.

• It pains me to see that Mother India is not respected by her own children when it comes to the safety of women.

• Atrocities of rape, murders, harassment on the roads, kidnapping and dowry deaths have made women fearful even in their own homes.

• The Indian Constitution is the holy book of democracy.

• The most powerful example of India's soft power lies in our definition of the relationship between faith and polity.

• The world must join India in fighting the menace of terrorism.

• Economic progress is also a test of democracy. 2015 is a year of hope.

• Achieving five percent plus growth rates each in the first two quarters of 2014-15 is a healthy sign for an early reversion to the high growth trajectory of 7-8 percent.

• Our national ambition is to raise the quality of life of Indians by quantum leaps.

• Our youth must lead the way to mastery of technology and communication.

• The cloud has become a library without frontiers and vast opportunity awaits within the computer in your palm.

• We can never cease to learn from a Mahatma, let us follow his example, and become worthy children of a magnificent father.