Panaji, July 7: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday praised the practice of the Uniform Civil Code in Goa, saying that implementation of the socio-legal system was truly reflective of the values of equality in the Indian Constitution.

In his address during a civic reception here, je also said that the seaward region's constant brush with people from different countries across the world, over ages, had earned the natives of Goa the tag of "global citizens".

"I am happy to know that the government in Goa is laying special stress on empowering women... Goa has a common civil code, as a result of which all residents, men and women, have been given equal rights. This Code reflects the principle of equality in our Constitution and presents a good example to the country," said Kovind, who is on a two-day visit to the coastal state.

Implementation of the Uniform Civil Code has been a key poll campaign promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Goa is the only state in the country, where the Code has been in existence since the pre-Liberation era.

Kovind said that the state's exposure over time to global influences had a positive impact on the mindset of the local population, making them global in outlook.

"Because of the natural beauty, environment, its coastline, for ages Goa has been attracting people across the world. It has been important centre for international trade in the past. From Japan in the East to Africa and Western Europe, people from various countries have been visiting Goa. The extensive contact with the rest of the world has resulted in an evolved mentality, making Goans global citizens in the truest sense," he said.

Inviting Goans to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kovind said that his official residence belonged to each citizen of the country.

"The Rashtrapati Bhavan is a symbol of our democracy and our national heritage. The Rashtrapati Bhavan does not belong to the President alone, but to every citizens of the country. I invite you to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan. When you are in Delhi, you are welcome to the President's House," he said.



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Ahmedabad (PTI): A tremor of 3.7 magnitude jolted Gujarat's Kutch district on Monday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said.

There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, the district administration said.

The tremor was recorded at 10.44 am with its epicentre 76 kilometres north-north east of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said.

This is the second seismic activity of more than 3 magnitude this month in the district.

On December 7, a tremor of 3.2 magnitude was recorded in the district, according to the ISR.

Last month, Kutch recorded an earthquake of 4 magnitude on November 18.

Earlier, on November 15, Patan in north Gujarat was jolted by an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude, as per the ISR data.

Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area.

It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, according to data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).

The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1.67 lakh others injured.