Editing K. R. Narayanan (section)

== Presidency (1997–2002) ==
K. R. Narayanan was elected to the [[President of India|presidency of India]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/hm/p1.html |title=Results of Presidential poll |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970801044230/http://alfa.nic.in/hm/p1.html |archive-date= 1 August 1997 }}, 17 July 1997. Archived Aug. 1997.</ref> (17 July 1997) with 95% of the votes in the [[electoral college]], as a result of the [[1997 Indian presidential election|presidential poll]]  on 14 July. This is the only presidential election to have been held with a [[minority government]] holding power at the centre. [[T. N. Seshan]] was the sole opposing candidate, and all major parties save the [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] supported his candidature.,<ref>{{cite web |last=Diwanji |first=Amberish K. |year=1997 |url=http://us.rediff.com/news/jul/11amber.htm |title=The importance of a dalit President |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405071044/http://us.rediff.com/news/jul/11amber.htm |archive-date=5 April 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while Seshan alleged that Narayanan had been elected solely for being a Dalit.

He was sworn in as the president of India (25 July 1997) by Chief Justice [[J. S. Verma]] in the [[Central Hall of Parliament]]. In his inaugural address,<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/krn_asum.htm |title=Inaugural address |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970804210818/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/krn_asum.htm |archive-date= 4 August 1997 }}, 25 July 1997. Archived Aug. 1997.</ref> he said: 
[[File:K._R._Narayanan_being_sworn_in_as_the_President_of_India.jpg|thumb|K. R. Narayanan being sworn in as the president of India]]
<blockquote>That the nation has found a consensus for its highest office in some one who has sprung from the grass-roots of our society and grown up in the dust and heat of this sacred land is symbolic of the fact that the concerns of the common man have now moved to the centre stage of our social and political life. It is this larger significance of my election rather than any personal sense of honour that makes me rejoice on this occasion.</blockquote>

;Golden Jubilee of independence

The principal event of the Golden Jubilee of Indian independence was President K. R. Narayanan's midnight address to the nation<ref>K. R. Narayanan: [http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010620191911 Address on the golden jubilee of Indian independence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630093042/http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010620191911 |date=30 June 2006 }}, 15 August 1997. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> during the special session of Parliament convened on the night of 14 August; in this address, he identified the establishment of a democratic system of government and politics to be the greatest achievement of India since independence.  The following morning, Prime Minister [[Inder Kumar Gujral|I. K. Gujral]], addressing the nation<ref>I. K. Gujral: [http://www.india50.com/speecH1.html Address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red fort on the golden jubilee of Indian independence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016061945/http://www.india50.com/speecH1.html |date=16 October 2005 }}, 15 August 1997. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> from the ramparts of the [[Red Fort]], said: <blockquote>When Gandhiji dreamt of India's future, he had said that the country will attain the real freedom only on the day when a Dalit would become the President of this country. This is our great fortune that today on the eve of golden jubilee of independence, we have been able to fulfil this dream of Gandhiji. In the person of Shri K. R. Narayanan we have been able to fulfil the dream of Gandhiji. Our President of whom the whole country is proud of, is from a very poor and downtrodden family and today he has endowed the Rashtrapati Bhavan with a new pride and respect. It is a matter of further happiness that the President has a very high place among the intellectuals of this country. This is a feather in the cap of our democracy that the backward sections of the society today are attaining their rightful place in society. All the countrymen today whether they are from minorities, scheduled castes [Dalits], or scheduled tribes [Adivasis] – are working unitedly for the development of the country.</blockquote>

;Participation in the elections
In the [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1998|general elections of 1998]], K. R. Narayanan became the first sitting president to vote (16 February 1998), casting his vote at a polling booth in a school within the [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] complex after standing in a queue like an ordinary citizen. He insisted on casting his vote, despite the departure from precedent being pointed out to him. Narayanan sought to change what was a long-standing practice of Indian presidents not voting during general elections.<ref name=krn_vote>Sukumar Muralidharan: [http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1505/15050260.htm "A role for the President"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628032831/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1505/15050260.htm |date=28 June 2006 }}, ''Frontline'' '''15''' (5), 7–20 March 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref><ref name=intervention_suku>Sukumar Muralidharan: [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1803/18031200.htm "A presidential intervention"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923105507/http://www.flonnet.com/fl1803/18031200.htm |date=23 September 2005 }}, ''Frontline'' '''18''' (3), 3–16 February 2001. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> He also exercised his franchise as president in the [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1999|1999 general elections]].

;Golden jubilee of the Republic
President K. R. Narayanan's address to the nation<ref name=rep>K. R. Narayanan: [http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/speeches/krn2000.htm Address to the nation on the golden jubilee of the Republic], 26 January 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2006.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324080606/http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/speeches/krn2000.htm |date=24 March 2015 }}</ref> on the golden jubilee of the Indian Republic (26 January 2000) is considered a landmark:<ref name=venkat>V. Venkatesan: [http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1703/17030280.htm "A wake-up call"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218180907/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1703/17030280.htm |date=18 February 2005 }}, ''Frontline'' '''17''' (3), 5–18 February 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2006.</ref> it was the first time<ref name=joseph>Ammu Joseph: [http://www.humanscape.org/Humanscape/2000/April/hs40012t.htm "Areas of darkness"], ''Humanscape'', April 2000  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703151439/http://www.humanscape.org/Humanscape/2000/April/hs40012t.htm |date=3 July 2010 }}</ref> a president attempted to analyse, with due concern for growing disparities, the several ways in which the country had failed<ref name=sainath>P. Sainath: [http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1703/17030290.htm "Iron in the soul, decay in the brain"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013063948/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1703/17030290.htm |date=13 October 2005 }}, ''Frontline'' '''17''' (3), 5–18 February 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2006.</ref> to provide economic justice to the Indian people, particularly the rural and agrarian population; he also stated that discontent was breeding and frustrations erupting in violence among the deprived sections of society. In his address to Parliament<ref>K. R. Narayanan: [http://www.india-seminar.com/2000/487/487%20narayanan.htm Address to parliament on the golden jubilee of the Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923024103/http://www.india-seminar.com/2000/487/487%20narayanan.htm |date=23 September 2005 }}, 26 January 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> later that day, he praised the work of [[B. R. Ambedkar]] on the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]] and cautioned against attempts to change its basic structure, concurring with Ambedkar's preference for accountability and responsibility over the stability of the government. He reiterated this in stronger terms in his next Republic day address (2001);<ref name=rep_2001>K. R. Narayanan: [http://meaindia.nic.in/speech/2001/01/25spc01.htm Address on Republic day], 26 January 2001. Retrieved 24 February 2006.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410180833/http://meaindia.nic.in/speech/2001/01/25spc01.htm |date=10 April 2009 }}</ref> on this occasion, he took exception to certain proposals seeking to abridge the franchise, and pointed out the wisdom of reposing faith in the common men and women of India as a whole, rather than in some elite section of society.

In these addresses, he articulated opinions which departed in many ways from certain views of the [[Primership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee|A. B. Vajpayee]] government.<ref name=intervention_suku /><ref>Sukumar Muralidharan, V. Venkatesan: [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1703/17030250.htm "A presidential intervention"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230083515/http://www.flonnet.com/fl1703/17030250.htm |date=30 December 2005 }}, ''Frontline'' '''17''' (3), 5 – 18 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref>

===Exercise of presidential discretion===
President Narayanan introduced the important practice of explaining to the nation (by means of Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqués) the thinking that led to the various decisions he took while exercising his discretionary powers; this has led to openness and transparency in the functioning of the president.

;Appointment of the prime minister and dissolution of Parliament
[[File:The_President_of_India,_K._R._Narayanan_during_an_interview_with_China_Central_Television.jpg|thumb|The President of India, K. R. Narayanan during an interview with China Central Television]]
[[File:President_Clinton_with_Indian_president_K._R._Narayanan02.jpg|thumb|President Clinton with Indian president K. R. Narayanan]]
During his presidency, Narayanan dissolved the [[Lok Sabha]] twice after determining through consultations across the political spectrum, that no one was in a position to secure the confidence of the house. Congress president [[Sitaram Kesri]] withdrew his party's support of the [[I. K. Gujral]] government and staked his claim to form the government on 28 November 1997. Gujral advised Narayanan of the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. President Narayanan determined that no one would be able to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha and accepted Gujral's advice<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr003.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the dissolution of the eleventh Lok Sabha |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980119180543/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr003.htm |archive-date=19 January 1998 }}, 4 December 1997. Archived Jan. 1998.</ref> (4 December). In the ensuing general elections, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) emerged as the single largest party, leading the largest pre-election coalition, the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), and the coalition leader [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]] staked his claim to form the government, though at that point he did not have a majority. Narayanan asked Vajpayee to furnish letters of support to demonstrate the NDA's ability to secure a majority. Vajpayee was able to meet this demand after support for the NDA grew, and subsequently he was appointed Prime Minister<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr032.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the appointment of the Prime minister |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990218135627/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr032.htm |archive-date=18 February 1999 }}, 15 March 1998. Archived Feb. 1999.</ref> (15 March 1998) on the condition (which was met) that a vote of confidence be secured within 10 days.<ref name=krn_vote />

One of the coalition partners supporting the minority government (the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] under [[J. Jayalalithaa]]) wrote a letter to the President withdrawing support on 14 April 1999, and Narayanan advised Vajpayee to seek a [[vote of confidence]] in the Lok Sabha. This motion was defeated (17 April). Both Vajpayee and the [[Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)|Leader of the Opposition]], Congress president [[Sonia Gandhi]], then staked claims to form the government. Narayanan asked the NDA and the Congress party to show proof of support since the loss of the confidence vote. When evidence from neither party was forthcoming, Narayanan informed the Prime Minister that fresh elections seemed to be the only way to resolve the crisis in governance. The Lok Sabha was then dissolved at Vajpayee's advice<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr119.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the dissolution of the twelfth Lok Sabha |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220235512/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr119.htm |archive-date=20 February 2001 }}, 26 April 1999. Archived Feb. 2001.</ref> (26 April). (In the ensuing general elections, the NDA secured a majority and Vajpayee was reappointed Prime Minister<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr160.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the appointment of the Prime minister |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012185035/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr160.htm |archive-date=12 October 2000 }}, 11 October 1999. Archived Oct. 2000</ref> (11 October 1999) in a straightforward manner.)

In these decisions, President Narayanan set a new precedent concerning the appointment of a prime minister – if no party or pre-election coalition had a majority, then a person would be appointed prime minister only if he was able to convince the president (through letters of support from allied parties) of his ability to secure the confidence of the house. In doing so, he diverged from the actions of his predecessors who had been faced with the task of appointing a prime minister from a [[hung parliament]], Presidents [[Neelam Sanjivareddy|N. Sanjiva Reddy]], [[R. Venkataraman]], and [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]: the latter two had followed the practice of inviting the leader of the single largest party or pre-election coalition to form the government without investigating their ability to secure the confidence of the house.

;Imposition of President's rule
President Narayanan returned for reconsideration the advices from the Union cabinet to impose [[President's rule]] in a state, in accordance with Article 356, in two instances: one from the Gujral government (22 October 1997) seeking to dismiss the [[Kalyan Singh]] government in [[Uttar Pradesh]],<ref>Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Praveen Swami: [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1422/14220040.htm "A crisis defused"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041216190120/http://www.flonnet.com/fl1422/14220040.htm |date=16 December 2004 }}, ''Frontline'' '''14''' (22), 1–14 November 1997. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> and the other from the Vajpayee government (25 September 1998) seeking to dismiss the [[Rabri Devi]] government in [[Bihar]].<ref>[[Praveen Swami]], Sudha Mahalingam: [http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1521/15210040.htm "The BJP's Bihar fiasco"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106231520/http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1521/15210040.htm |date=6 November 2012 }}, ''Frontline'' '''15''' (21), 10–23 October 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> In both instances, he cited the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme court]] judgement of 1994 on ''[[S. R. Bommai vs. Union of India]]'' and exercised his discretion by, in the former case, returning the matter for reconsideration of the cabinet, which then decided not to move ahead in the matter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Venkitesh |date=2 December 2005 |title=Citizen President |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article30207488.ece |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=Frontline}}</ref> However, in the latter case, the cabinet re-advised the same to the president after couple of months, It was then the President's rule was imposed in Bihar in February 1999.

;Kargil conflict
A [[Kargil War|military conflict]] was developed in [[Kargil district|Kargil]] on the [[Line of Control]] (LoC) with [[Pakistan]] in May 1999. The [[Primership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee government]] had lost a no-confidence vote in Lok Sabha earlier that year and the opposition failed to form the next government. The Lok Sabha had been dissolved and a [[caretaker government]] was in office. This caused a problem with democratic accountability, as every major government decision is expected to be discussed, deliberated and consented by the parliament. Narayanan suggested to Vajpayee that the [[Rajya Sabha]] be convened to discuss the conflict, as demanded by several opposition parties (citing the precedent of Nehru convening a parliamentary session on Vajpayee's demand during the Sino-Indian war in 1962 ) though there was no precedent of convening the Rajya Sabha in isolation during an interregnum.<ref>V. Venkatesan: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629035018/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1615/16150230.htm "Political echoes"]}}, ''Frontline'' '''16''' (15), 17–30 July 1999. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> Further, Narayanan was briefed by the chiefs of the three arms of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] on the conduct of the conflict. His Republic day address next year<ref name=rep /> began by paying homage to the soldiers who had died defending the nation.

===Concern for social and economic justice===
[[File:Jyoti Basu, K. R. Narayanan, and Usha Narayanan.jpg|thumb|K. R. Narayanan and Usha Narayanan with Jyoti Basu]]
President Narayanan in his speeches consistently sought to remind the nation of its duties and obligations towards the Dalits and [[Adivasi]]s, the minorities, and the poor and downtrodden. He called the nation's attention to various recalcitrant social ills and evils, such as atrocities against women and children, caste discrimination and the ingrained attitudes it nurtured, abuse of the [[Natural environment|environment]] and public utilities, corruption and lack of accountability in the delivery of public services, [[religious fundamentalism]], advertisement-driven consumerism, and flouting of human rights, and lamented the absence of public concern, political debate, and civic action to address them. Drawing from the experiences of his own home state [[Kerala]], he pointed out that education was at the root of human and economic development. He hoped that the establishment would not fear the awakening of the masses through education, and spoke of the need to have faith in the people.<ref name="ram_int"/><ref name=rep /><ref>K. R. Narayanan: [http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010618202022 Speech] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630093052/http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010618202022 |date=30 June 2006 }} while inaugurating the new complex of the Kerala Legislature, 22 May 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref>

President Narayanan spoke on various occasions on the condition of the Dalits, Adivasis, and other oppressed sections of society, and the various iniquities they faced (often in defiance of law), such as denial of civic amenities, [[ostracism]], harassment and violence (particularly against women), and displacement by ill-conceived development projects.<ref name=rep /><ref name=rep_2001 /><ref name=dal_mes>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/dalit98.htm |title=Message |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000607182210/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/dalit98.htm |archive-date= 7 June 2000 }} on the first World convention of the Dalit international organisation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 October 1998. Archived Jun. 2006.</ref>
[[File:The_President_of_India,_Shri_K._R._Narayanan_meeting_the_with_the_Premier_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China,_Mr._Zhu_Rongji_at_Beijing.jpg|thumb|The President of India, Shri K. R. Narayanan meeting the with the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Zhu Rongji at Beijing]]
He felt that the policy of reservations for the backward sections in education and the public sector had remained unfulfilled due to administrative distortions and narrow interpretations, and needed to be implemented with renewed vigour and sincerity; apprehensive of what he described as a counter-revolution among some privileged sections seeking to reverse progressive policies, he reminded the nation that these benefits were not charity, but had been provided by way of human rights and social justice to sections constituting a large portion of the population and contributing to the economy as landless agricultural labourers and industrial workers.<ref name=rep /> In his 2002 Republic day address,<ref>K. R. Narayanan: [http://meaindia.nic.in/event/2002/01/25event01.htm Address on Republic day], 26 January 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2006.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410132431/http://meaindia.nic.in/event/2002/01/25event01.htm |date=10 April 2009 }}</ref> he drew attention to the [[Bhopal Declaration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1903/19031240.htm|title=KR Narayanan's words on Bhopal Declaration and its adoption|website=www.frontline.thehindu.com|access-date=2019-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211042357/https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1903/19031240.htm|archive-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> on the Dalit and Adivasi agenda for the 21st century and spoke of the necessity of the private sector adopting policies to promote equitable representation of the backward sections in their enterprises. In a governmental note on higher judicial appointments (which leaked to the press;<ref>V. K. Madhavan Kutty: [http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1603/16030240.htm "Behind the leak"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125104559/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1603/16030240.htm |date=25 November 2005 }}, ''Frontline'' '''16''' (3), 30 January – 12 February 1999. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> January 1999), he observed that eligible persons from the backward sections were available and that their under-representation or non-representation was not justifiable;<ref>Sukumar Muralidharan: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629035005/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1603/16030220.htm "Wanted intervention, phoney controversy"]}}, ''Frontline'' '''16''' (3), 30 January – 12 February 1999. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> [[K. G. Balakrishnan]], a Dalit, was elevated to the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme court]] (8 June 2000), the fourth such instance, and the only one since 1989.

He felt that [[B. R. Ambedkar|Ambedkar]]'s exhortation to "educate, organise, agitate" continued to be relevant; with the Dalits forming a quarter of the population in a democracy with [[universal suffrage|universal adult franchise]], he felt that the ultimate destiny of the backward sections lay in the hands of the backward sections themselves, organised socially and politically.<ref name=dal_mes />

When the Australian missionary and social worker [[Graham Staines]] and his two minor sons were burned alive (22 January 1999), President Narayanan condemned it as a barbarous crime belonging to the world's inventory of black deeds.<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr092.htm |title=Letter |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991008051634/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr092.htm |archive-date= 8 October 1999 }} on the murder of Graham Staines and his two minor sons, 24 January 1999. Archived Oct. 1999.</ref>

Towards the end of his presidency, [[2002 Gujarat riots|communal riots]] broke out in [[Gujarat]] (February 2002). President Narayanan was deeply pained and anguished, and described it as a grave crisis of the society and the nation; he called it the duty of every Indian to strive to restore peace and thus preserve and strengthen the foundations of the state and the tradition of tolerance. He did not stand the election for a second presidential term due to the lack of support from the ruling government. After the demission of presidential office, he lent his support to alternative globalisation movements like the [[World Social Forum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/press_release/press-new/pr370.htm |title=President stays away from Holi celebrations |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020821204337/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/press_release/press-new/pr370.htm |archive-date=21 August 2002 }}, 28 March 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/press_release/press-new/pr381.htm |title=Press release |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020823091659/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/press_release/press-new/pr381.htm |archive-date=23 August 2002 }} on the President meeting with victims of Gujarat violence, 27 April 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.</ref><ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://president of /S/html/press_release/press-new/pr383.htm |title=Message |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020823092104/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/press_release/press-new/pr383.htm |archive-date=23 August 2002 }} to the nation on Gujarat violence, 29 April 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.</ref> After he had left the presidency, and after the Vajpayee government had been voted out of power in the [[2004 Indian general elections|general elections of May 2004]], in an interview on the third anniversary of the riots (in February 2005), he said;<ref name=ptt_int />
<blockquote>There was governmental and administrative support for the communal riots in Gujarat. I gave several letters to Prime Minister Vajpayee in this regard on this issue. I met him personally and talked to him directly. But Vajpayee did not do anything effective.

I requested him to send the army to Gujarat and suppress the riots. The military was sent, but they were not given powers to shoot. If the military was given powers to shoot at the perpetrators of violence, recurrence of tragedies in Gujarat could have been avoided.

However, both the state (the [[Narendra Modi]] government) and central government did not do so. I feel there was a conspiracy involving the state and central governments behind the Gujarat riots.
</blockquote>
He also stated that constitutional limits on his powers had prevented him from doing anything further.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071127134515/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005030408891100.htm&date=2005%2F03%2F04%2F&prd=th& "Constitution limited my powers: Narayanan"]}}, ''The Hindu'', 3 March 2005. Retrieved March 2006.</ref>
Throughout his presidency, Narayanan adopted the policy of not visiting places of worship or [[godman (Hindu ascetic)|godmen/godwomen]]; he is the only president to have followed this practice.

===Demission of office===
As Narayanan's tenure neared its end, various sections of public opinion looked forward to a second term of his presidency. The NDA had a slender majority in the electoral college. Narayanan offered to be a consensus candidate. Opposition parties (including the Congress, the Left Front, [[Janata Dal (Secular)]], and various regional parties) supported a second term for him, and Sonia Gandhi met him to request his candidature; Vajpayee then met Narayanan, informed him that there was no consensus within the NDA on the question, and advised against his candidature. The NDA then proposed to elevate the vice-president, [[Krishan Kant]], as a consensus; this drew support from the opposition and an agreement to this effect was conveyed by Vajpayee's representative to the Congress. However, within a day, the NDA unable to reach an internal consensus, decided to propose another candidate [[P. C. Alexander]]. Alexander's candidature drew disapproval of the opposition. The opposition parties approached Narayanan and renewed their request to seek a second term. The NDA then put forth a third candidate [[APJ Abdul Kalam|A P J Abdul Kalam]] as their official choice, without seeking consensus; one opposition party (the [[Samajwadi Party]] under [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]) dissipated the unity of the Opposition by supporting this proposal. Narayanan opted himself out from a contest at this point.<ref>Purnima S. Tripathi, Sukumar Muralidharan: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629035030/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1912/19120270.htm "Elusive consensus"]}}, ''Frontline'' '''19''' (12), 8–21 June 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref><ref>V. Venkatesan: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629035051/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1913/19130110.htm "The political dynamics"]}}, ''Frontline'' '''19''' (13), 22 June-5 Jul 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref>

When asked about these events later,<ref name=ptt_int /> Narayanan accused the BJP of scuttling a second term of his presidency.

In his farewell address to the nation<ref>K. R. Narayanan: [http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=020725151520 Farewell address to the nation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630093129/http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=020725151520 |date=30 June 2006 }}, 24 July 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> (24 July 2002), K. R. Narayanan set his hopes for social action and progress on the service of the nation by its youth. He reflected on his varied experiences of the essential goodness and wisdom of the Indian people, recalling how he had grown up in Uzhavoor among adherents of several religions, how [[religious tolerance]] and harmony had prevailed, how upper-caste [[Hinduism|Hindus]] and well-off Christians had helped him in his early studies, and how upper-caste Hindus as well as Christians and Muslims had worked together enthusiastically for his election campaigns in Ottapalam. He said that the credibility and endurance of India's unity and democracy are founded on its tradition of tolerance, and spoke of the need for Hindus, who form the majority, to express the traditional spirit of their religion.

Reflecting on his presidency, K. R. Narayanan said:<ref name=ptt_int />
<blockquote>As the President of India, I had lots of experiences that were full of pain and helplessness. There were occasions when I could do nothing for people and for the nation. These experiences have pained me a lot. They have depressed me a lot. I have agonised because of the limitations of power. Power and the helplessness surrounding it are a peculiar tragedy, in fact.</blockquote>     
                                   
He was the also the first president addressed the state assembly.