The Special Session of the Lok Sabha to mark its 60th anniversary today began with the playing of the National Anthem.

Greeting the citizens of the country, Speaker Meira Kumar said, Parliament reflects the sovereign will of all Indians. It is also the highest protector of their fundamental rights. The 60 years' journey of Parliament has been successful because of them. The people alone are its guiding force. Meira Kumar said Parliament has empowered everyone in India transcending all barriers. The right to vote has made everyone equal in the country. The Speaker said India's diversity is our main strength. She said democracy has no room for caste system. We will have to eliminate it.

Initiating a discussion in the Rajya Sabha to mark the 60th anniversary of the Indian Parliament, the Prime Minister said, the Upper House is an institution, whose deliberations over the years have enriched the Parliamentary democracy and nurtured the strength of federal polity. Dr Manmohan Singh said, the House provides a unique platform for every region of the vast country to have its voice heard at the highest forum of Indian democracy.

The Leader of the House and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said May 13, 1952 was the milestone in India's journey of democracy. He said Parliament has acted as a shock absorber all these years. It has given way to consensus in place of confrontation. Parliament is supreme, Mr. Mukherjee said.

Senior BJP Leader L.K. Advani said the greatest achievement of India in the last sixty years has been the strengthening of the values of democracy. The country has learnt to tolerate contrarian views with respect. Those who forecast a gloomy future for democracy at the time of Independence have been proved wrong.

Leader of Opposition, Arun Jaitley said this is an occasion to rejoice, introspect and prepared for the challenges in the future.

UPA leader Sonia Gandhi said democracy has taken deep roots in the country. Parliament reflects the aspirations of all the people of India. The Indian Parliament has evolved as a global benchmark, she said.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP leader Dara Singh Chauhan, JDU leader Sharad Yadav, Trinamool Congress leader Sudipto Bandhopadhyay, CPM leader Basudev Acharya, BJD leader Arjun Charan, E.Elangovan of DMK and Anant Geete of Shiv Sena also spoke highlighting the glory of Indian democracy.