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India on Sunday celebrated 60th anniversary of the first sitting of its Parliament, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealing to members to restore dignity and decorum of the august institution of democracy.
Urging members not to disrupt Parliament proceedings, the prime minister said at a special session of both houses -- Rajya Sabha ( Upper House) and Lok Sabha (Lower House) that they should restore the dignity of the institution of elders.
"That is not to say that we should not reflect with concern on the repeated disruptions of proceedings and a regrettable unwillingness, on occasion, to engage in informed discussion," Singh told Rajya Sabha.
The prime minister said that the country's unflinching commitment to democracy is the reason behind India's growing global stature.
Echoing similar sentiments, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Lok Sabha that a handful of throttlers disrupt proceedings as the "silent majority" looks on.
He also called for measures to ensure smooth running of Parliament.
India got its independence from Britain on Aug. 15, 1947, but became a republic on Jan. 2, 1950. The Parliament was constituted on April 17, 1952, but Lok Sabha held its first session on May 13 that year. |
