India is committed to move forward on the path of peace, development and progress through democracy while also protecting the sanctity of institutions established by the Constitution. Addressing the commemorative function of the 60th anniversary of Parliament held on Sunday evening in the Central Hall, the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said, as the world' largest democracy, India can be proud that since winning freedom and adopting a Constitution, the country has continuously walked the path of democracy, proving its skeptics wrong. She, however, pointed out that the big challenge is to proceed towards being a vibrant and healthy democracy.
Mrs. Patil said, Parliament is the repository of the will of the people. Therefore, people's growing aspirations and expectations need to be translated into policy decisions and necessary legislations. Mrs. Patil said, democracy can survive, flourish and grow when there is respect for all stakeholders and for differing opinions and where institutions of democracy are functioning in harmony, in general.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari said, Parliament has been successful in good measure in representing and harmonising the diversity of our social and political interests, and also in moving forward on the basis of commonality and inclusion, rather than superiority and exclusion. He said, while much has been achieved, more needs to be done to attain the lofty objectives so succinctly delineated in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Mr. Ansari called on for a collective resolve on this historic occasion to restore the majesty of Parliament.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, unfortunately the number of serious discussions in Parliament has declined in recent years. He urged for reviving the tradition of reasoned and constructive debate in Parliament on the issues of the day.
Dr. Singh said, it is the only way to earn the people's respect, lead public opinion and provide media with serious content that will raise the level of public discourse as in other mature democracies. He said, the Members of Parliament will individually and collectively determine how effectively the Parliament represents the aspirations of the people and guides the destiny of our country.
The Prime Minister called for firmly rejecting those who would mock the institutions of our democracy that have developed over decades of experiences. Dr. Singh said, though we are not a perfect democracy, we are functioning democracy with mechanisms and safeguards that allow for the reconciliation of diverse interests and differences. The Prime Minister said it is the vitality and vibrancy of our democracy that keeps the nation united and moving on the path of progress.
He said, even though many people often feel frustrated by disruptions of Parliament, it is a proud fact that both Houses have often burnt the proverbial midnight oil to discuss and debate some of the most important issues that concern the people of India and the world. He also said that it is a matter of great pride that our Parliament has debated and approved the most progressive legislations including the right to education, the right to guaranteed employment for the rural poor, the right to information, laws for conferring gender equality, protecting women and children and also for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other backward classes and religious minorities.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said, the abiding faith of the people of India in parliamentary democracy has enabled us to successfully complete Sixty Years of our journey. She said the rich and poor, men and women of all religious and creed are equal partners in this journey. Mrs. Kumar said India has successfully conducted fifteen General Elections and over 70 crore voters were registered in the 2009 General Elections. The Speaker said the Parliament of India stands tall as the shining beacon of democracy.
Mrs. Meira Kumar said it is in the Chambers of this sacred institution that our elected representatives shape and decide the destiny of over 120 crore people.
The four Members of the First Lok Sabha – Rishang Keishing, Reshamlal Jangde, K. Mohana Rao and Kandala Subrahmanyam – were felicitated by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the occasion. Coins of denominations of ten rupees and five rupees and publications of the Secretariates of both Houses were released, marking the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Parliament.
