Disruptions and uproar in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha apparently weighing heavily on her mind, President Pratibha Patil on Thursday said Parliament bears the responsibility of setting standards for all elected bodies.
"Parliament, being the national legislative body, also bears the responsibility of setting standards for state legislatures, local bodies and indeed all elected bodies," Patil said.
Her comments came at a function in the Central Hall of Parliament where she gave outstanding parliamentarian awards to Union Minister Sharad Pawar, P Chidambaram and Mani Shankar Aiyer and BJP deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj.
Noting that how Parliament conduct itself is what other elected body feel is the right standard for them, the President said it was incumbent on all MPs to uphold the highest traditions of democracy and the highest standards of parliamentary functioning.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee also spoke in similar vein at the function.
The Prime Minister hoped that each MP would reflect on the role that they individually and collectively play in strengthening "this great institution of democracy".
The Prime Minister hoped that each MP would reflect on the role that they individually and collectively play in strengthening "this great institution of democracy".