Bedrock of parliamentary system is people's faith in cherished democracy: Meira Kumar

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Sunday said that the unflinching faith of the people of India in the cherished values of democracy formed the bedrock of India's parliamentary system of governance.

Speaking at a special sitting of a joint session of parliament on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the first sitting of Parliament, Kumar said that the founding fathers of the Constitution established a parliamentary form of government to attain the noble ideals of justice, liberty and equality and human dignity.

She said Parliament had stood the test of the time and made determined efforts in articulating and addressing the varied demands of the vast Indian population.

Acknowledging with gratitude the invaluable contributions of all her illustrious predecessors, Kumar said that it was obligatory for public representatives to follow the directions of their respective parties and to live up to the expectations of their voters, which is the parameter of success of their political career.

"But they should keep in mind that they have been elected to the Parliament of India and the history will assess their performance in that capacity," she added.

She said that notwithstanding their ideological differences, parliamentarians should always think of national interest as paramount.

Describing Parliament as the country's supreme deliberative institution, Kumar said it has enacted many far-reaching and revolutionary legislations to ensure an egalitarian and progressive Indian society.

She said that Parliament has enacted nearly 3400 legislations, and amended the Constitution 97 times.

The Lok Sabha Speaker further said that Parliament's engagement with the people is the keystone of a vibrant democratic system.

"Each one of us, therefore, has the onerous responsibility of reinforcing peoples' faith in our democratic institutions. We should, therefore, conform to the highest standards of democratic traditions and respond to the changing needs, ambitions and aspirations of the people," she observed.

Describing sixty years as not being a very long period in the history of a nation, Kumar urged lawmakers to introspect about past experiences and visualize future challenges.

She made it a point to mention that while all should collectively glorify democracy with full zeal, efforts should be made to root out the caste system "with all the might at our command". (ANI)