India's Parliament meets on Sunday to mark the 60th anniv of its functioning

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Concern over repeated disruptions that have raised questions over the efficacy of Parliament's functioning marked the 60th anniversary Sunday of its first sitting in free India with leaders pressing for "sincere" introspection to restore the dignity of the institution. Cutting across party lines, leaders asserted that supremacy of Parliament must be preserved, holding that laws are made by it and not mobs, apparently a reference to civil society campaign against Parliamentarians while pressing for setting up of a Lokpal (Ombudsman). The leaders took pride in the fact that India has managed to hold on to democracy and was a shining example in the world despite many pressing problems like acute poverty, sustained terrorism and hiccups for democracy in the neighbourhood. However, a faint reference was also made to the brief period of Emergency of the mid 1970s, which was corrected constitutionally soon after. At the end of the day-long debate, both the Houses passed unanimous resolutions to "uphold and maintain the dignity, sanctity and supremacy of Parliament" and to "make it an effective instrument of change" while strengthening democratic values and principles. The members in both the Houses also resolved to enhance the accountability of the government towards the people through the oversight of Parliament. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who set the tone for introspection as he flagged concerns in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house, over "repeated disruptions" and "unwillingness" for discussions, pressed for "substantive and sincere" introspection. Winding up a day-long discussion in the Lok Sabha marking the 60th year of the first sitting of Parliament, he said public disenchantment is bound to rise if parties fail to collectively resolve to restore prestige of the institution. Appealing to members to "write a new chapter and restore to it the sense of dignity and decorum" of Parliament, he said every MP should lead by example to restore the prestige of this institution. While asking the country to reject those who mock the institutions of democracy, he admitted that many people often feel frustrated by the disruption of Parliament and "in our own way, each one of us shares the blame for this state of affairs." He said, "We are not a perfect democracy but we are a functioning democracy with mechanisms and safeguards that allow for the reconciliation of diverse interests and differences. "It is the vitality and vibrancy of our democracy that keeps the nation united and moving on the path of progress," he added. A joint sitting of the two houses was held on the occasion in the central hall of Parliament where four members of the first Parliament were also honoured. Addressing the joint sitting, President Pratibha Patil said the Indian democracy "cannot be allowed to falter" at a time when democracies of the world are operating in complex situations including fractured mandates and explosion of the media. She said, "Discussions can be difficult and divergent but yet solutions have to be found through discussions in Parliament and resolve through established Parliamentary practices." The President released two commemorative coins in the denominations of rupees five and ten on the occasion. She also released some books brought out by the secretariats of the two houses. Vice President Hamid Ansari, who is also the ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, regretted that there was perceptible drop in the working days of Parliament. "Deliberation is less frequent; legislation is at times hasty.... An impression is afoot in some quarters that diligent parliamentary work is less rewarding in political terms," he said. Noting that new imperatives propelled them, Ansari said, "We do need to respond meaningfully to awakened expectation of a new generation in a changing world." Speaker Meira Kumar reminded the lawmakers that they were in Parliament to protect interests of people and there was no scope for lapses in discharge of this duty. Finance Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee echoed concerns over disruption in the Lower House when he lamented that a handful of members throttle the "silent majority" and called for a mechanism that will eliminate disruptions. Mukherjee also said Parliament has acted as a "shock absorber" on several occasions and whenever there have been disputes, dissensions, the Lok Sabha has played a role in defusing it. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the ruling UPA coalition, emphasised that independence of Parliament must be protected at all costs and urged members to live up to the standards of the makers of Constitution. BJP leader L K Advani shared Mukherjee's views and said tolerance and understanding for each others' views and debates in Parliament can solve issues. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said a major challenge before the country was to improve polity and good governance. India's first Parliament after the Constitution of independent India became operative in 1950 had its first sitting on May 13, 1952, following elections being held for their constitution in late 1951 and early 1952. Hence the sittings on Sunday to mark the commemoration of that date. In the interim period between 1950 and 1952 the Constituent Assembly had continued to function as the provisional Parliament of the country. PTI