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May 14, 2002
0038 IST

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No change in basic structure of Constitution: PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday night ruled out any change in the basic structure of the Constitution.

He said the Constitution Review Commission had only recommended measures to further strengthen the parliamentary democracy in the country.

"It has been a national resolve that there will be no change in the basic structure of the Constitution... No one should have any doubts about it," Vajpayee said at the golden jubilee celebrations of Parliament in the auditorium of the new library complex.

He said the Constitution was a document, which was not static, but "there should be no change in its basic structure, which has been drafted after much thought by our founding fathers".

Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi said the biggest challenge faced by the country was from fanatical and communal forces and the recent incidents "struck at the roots and foundation of democracy".

"So long as secularism endures, India wins... We have to assure all our people that India belongs to each of them or we will cease to enjoy their confidence," she said.

Dismissing the contention that democracy was an obstacle to achieving rapid development, Vajpayee said it gave everyone a chance to progress.

To mark the occasion, Vice-President Krishan Kant released a Rs4 postage stamp depicting Parliament embossed in metallic gold.

The prime minister inaugurated an exhibition titled "Parliament at 50".

Gandhi released an inland letter giving a panoramic view of Parliament.

Speaker Manohar Joshi released a book -- 50 Years of Indian Parliament. Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed also released a book titled Parliament of India.

Vajpayee, who was a member of the second Lok Sabha, presented the books to former Manipur chief minister Reishing Keishang, who has the unique distinction of being member of the first Lok Sabha and the present Rajya Sabha.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said while the prime minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Somnath Chatterjee had been nine-time members of the Lok Sabha, the deputy speaker had been member in ten Lok Sabhas.

The function was followed by a lavish dinner at the library complex. It was attended by Vajpayee, Gandhi, Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, other Union ministers, MPs and other invitees.

The prime minister hoped that following the celebrations, the conduct of the MPs inside Parliament would be different.

As a tribute to G M C Balayogi, Joshi announced that the auditorium in the new library complex would be named after the former speaker who died in March in a helicopter crash.

Vajpayee and other speakers lauded former speaker Shivraj Patil for his vision and foresight in initiating the library project.

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Parliament commemorates golden jubilee

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