President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday defended the new farm laws as beneficial for the majority and condemned the “dishonouring” of the Tricolour and Republic Day, making an oblique allusion to the farmers’ tractor rally.

Addressing the customary joint sitting of Parliament on the first day of the budget session, Kovind spoke at length on the farm sector as the government benches thumped their desks and the few Opposition MPs present protested.

Most Opposition parties had boycotted the President’s address in protest at the government’s “insensitive” treatment of the agitating farmers.

Some MPs such as former BJP ally Hanuman Beniwal, Congress member Ravneet Singh and Aam Aadmi Party members chanted slogans and demanded the repeal of the new farm laws.

Punjab MP Ravneet, whose party boycotted the event, wanted to be present to register his protest. Seated in the Central Hall, he chanted “Jai kisan, jai jawan (Hail the farmer, hail the soldier)” in the middle of the President’s address and demanded the withdrawal of the contentious laws.

Rajasthan MP Beniwal and AAP members protested from the Lower and Upper House. The AAP members later posted videos of their protest.

The President’s address reflects the voice of the central government, which prepares the speech and has it approved by the cabinet.

“After extensive consultations, Parliament approved three important farm reform bills seven months ago,” the President said. “The benefits of these three important farm reforms started reaching more than 10 crore small farmers instantly.”

Kovind said these 10 crore-odd farmers with landholdings of one or two hectares made up 80 per cent of the community, and that the government “accords priority to these small and marginal farmers too”.

Kovind referred to the farmers’ tractor rally, saying: “The recent acts of dishonouring the national flag and showing disrespect to the auspicious occasion of Republic Day are unfortunate.”

Some participants in the tractor rally had not taken the designated route and had instead swarmed into the Red Fort, where some of them hoisted the Sikh pennant Nishan Sahib and a farmer union flag from an empty pole. The Tricolour atop the fort was not touched.

Farmer leaders have alleged a government conspiracy, saying the security forces deliberately spread confusion about the route and did nothing to stop the storming of the Red Fort.

The government has used the Red Fort breach to crack down on the protesters and farmer union leaders.

Kovind dwelt on what the government claims are measures to increase the farmers’ income, prompting Prime Minister Modi and other ministers to break into applause.