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No room for divisive agenda in political landscape: Joshi

It was on this day fifty years ago that people's representatives elected through the first general election met in the Lok Sabha under Speaker G V Mavalankar.

That day marked the culmination of a process set in motion with the first sitting of the Constituent assembly on December nine, 1946.

Observing that MPs need to recognise that diversities were a source of strength, Joshi said, "Democracy is about the art of co-existence."

"Our own tested path of non-violence that inspired and guided our freedom movement, has not lost its relevance for our country, nay the world, even today," he said in a statement in the House.

To a query from RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on plans to celebrate the occasion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said the Lok Sabha was much bigger than the government and it (government) would implement any plan of action decided by the House.

Joshi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and other founding fathers of the Republic for 'whom no sacrifice in the service of the nation was too big and because of whom we could lead a free and dignified existence all these years'.

Maintaining that the past 50 years had witnessed the country establishing itself as a strong democracy making rapid strides on various fronts, Joshi said, "We can be legitimately proud of the socio-economic progress and the political stability we have been able to achieve through our successive Parliaments."

The Lok Sabha, he said, that has been witness to selfless leaders articulating and addressing the grievances of the vast and diverse population.

"It is the one place where our diversity merged and out of it emerged the united identity of our country," he said.

The dedication and commitment of selfless leaders, the sacrifices of many unknown soldiers and the unqualified support of the people had led the country to be 'in a position of pride as the largest working democracy in the world today', Joshi said.

"It is imperative that we further safeguard and strengthen our democracy and democratic institutions," he said adding democracy was 'a system based on dialogue and debate'.

"Democracy can thrive only if everyone demonstrates a good degree of tolerance and unwavering commitment to submit oneself to norms of parliamentary discipline and decorum," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman Krishan Kant asserted that the Rajya Sabha had powers on par with the Lok Sabha in matters of ordinary legislation and had brought many changes in its rules to function as a sensitive barometer of public opinion.

"The close involvement of the Rajya Sabha in numerous legislative measures is a testimony to the fact that though a second chamber, it is not a secondary chamber," Kant said on the occasion of completion of 50 years of Parliament.

During the last 50 years of its existence, the Rajya Sabha had discharged its functions admirably and lived up to the noble and lofty ideals of the founding fathers, Kant said.

Stating that the Upper House has not merely remained as a revising chamber, Kant said it has asserted itself, be it a constitution amendment bill, an ordinary bill or motion of thanks on the President's address.

"While the role of this House is limited in financial matters, its members take a keen interest in financial matters both in the House and in committees," Kant said.

He said the creation of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees comprising members from both Houses to scrutinise the demands for grants and examine policy and legislative proposals of the government is an innovation, which has greatly strengthened the basic role of Parliament.

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