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Pranab Mukherjee, who was sworn in as the country's 13th President on Wednesday, vowed to protect and preserve the Constitution, both in word and spirit. In his acceptance speech on assuming the office of President of India, Mukherjee said: "The principal responsibility of this office is to function as the guardian of our Constitution. I will strive, as I said on oath, to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution, not just in word, but also in spirit." "We are all, across the divide of party and region, partners at the altar of our motherland. Our federal Constitution embodies the idea of modern India : it defines not only India but also modernity," he said. "A modern nation is built on some basic fundamentals: democracy, or equal rights for every citizen; secularism, or equal freedom to every faith; equality of every region and language; gender equality and, perhaps most important of all, economic equity. For our development to be real the poorest of our land must feel that they are part of the narrative of rising India ," he added. Mukherjee was administered oath of office by Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia at a special ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament here. The function was attended by a host of VVIPs, including outgoing President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. A 21-gun salute was accorded to Mukherjee after he was sworn-in as the country's next President. He solemnly affirmed by the oath, which he took in English.

President Mukherjee vows to protect Constitution both in word and spirit