New Delhi, Jul 25 (UNI) Mr Ram Nath Kovind today took oath as 14th President of the country, calling for creation of an egalitarian society with equal opportunity for all. Underlining that the diversity of the country was its uniqueness and its strength, the new President saluted the power and resilience of the 1.3 billion people of the country. He said every citizen of the country -- its farmers, its soldiers, its youth, its women, its police and paramilitary personnel, teachers and scientists -- was a nation builder. The new President in his speech spoke of Gandhiji’s struggle for Freedom, Sardar Patel’s feat of unification of states and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s struggle to secure the rights and dignity of weaker sections. Mr Kovind spoke of his long journey that started from a poor family residing in a mud house in a village, but, he said, this was the story of not only his family but of millions in the society. He also pointed out that for Dr Ambedkar, political freedom was not enough unless it was followed by economic freedom. Mr Kovind, the second Dalit President after K R Narayanan, was administered oath by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar. Earlier, the Election Commission notification declaring him elected was read out. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M Hamid Ansari, former president Pratibha Patil, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, senior members of the Cabinet, veteran BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other parties, MPs and other distinguished people from different walks of life. Among Chief Ministers who attended the ceremony were Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, CM V Narayansamy of Congress-ruled Puducherry and his counterpart Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi, besides those of BJP ruled states like Mr Yogi Adittanath of Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh -- N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana -- K C Rao besides Governor of Manipur Najma Heptulla and her counterpart in Pudducherry Kiran Bedi also attended the ceremony. The new President's family--- wife Savita Kovind, daughter Swati and son Prashant Kumar among others also attended the swearing-in ceremony. As Mr Kovind was sworn in, he was given 21-gun salute in Parliament premises More UNI NAZ-DEVN-AR RSA 1324