Elected representatives must prevent erosion of democracy: VP Ansari
Speaking at the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2017, the vice president said it was up to the country’s politicians to ensure the spirit of India’s democracy as provided by the Constitution.
Parliamentarians have the duty to prevent the erosion of democracy, while acting as a bridge between overarching national interests and local dynamics, vice-president Hamid Ansari said on Wednesday.
He said elected representatives have the ability to communicate effectively with an economy of words and their personal conduct and credibility provides assurance to the public in the efficacy of the institutions of parliamentary democracy.
The vice-president was speaking at the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2017, organised by the media group Lokmat to felicitate parliamentarians.
“Our Constitution provides a framework for our democracy. A framework is one aspect; its spirit is another and more important aspect. It is the duty of the elected representatives of the people of India to prevent erosion of the vitality and spirit of democracy that is the lifeblood of our Parliament,” he said.
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Ansari, who is also the chairperson of Rajya Sabha where heated discussions and debates have taken place between the Opposition and the government, also commented on the conduct of elected representatives.
“The discourse employed by the parliamentarians in debating issues of law and policy in the House is not only an indicator of their personal capacities and integrity but also of their world view and orientations. Parliamentarians must therefore strive to bring the highest possible level of clarity, erudition and civility to their public discourses,” he said.
BJP stalwart and Lok Sabha MP, LK Advani and Rajya Sabha MP and JDU leader Sharad Yadav were presented the life time achievement awards, while CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and RSP leader NK Premachandran were given the award for the best parliamentarian.
Congress’s Sushmita Dev and SP’s Jaya Bachchan were given the best parliamentarian award, while the award for the best debut woman parliamentarian was bagged by BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi and Congress’ Rajni Patil.
Commenting on the behaviour of parliamentarians NDA’s presidential nominee M Venkaiah Naidu said, their value systems, conduct and speeches inspire others.
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