The Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the international Parliamentary
conference to mark the golden jubilee of Indian Parliament, here
today. In his address, the Prime Minister noted that democracy
should be developed as an effective instrument for fulfilling
people’s aspirations and resolving conflicts and contentious issues.
Shri Vajpayee also expressed the need to protect and further strengthen
the institutions of democracy. He pointed out that the effectiveness
of democracy could go up to even a hundred fold, if the norms
of democratic institutions are adhered to.
The President, Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Vice-President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
and the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Manohar Joshi were among the
distinguished ones present on the occasion. Following is the full
text of the speech of the Prime Minister:
"A great occasion
has brought all of us together today. The Golden Jubilee of our
Parliament is no doubt a proud event for us in India, for people
as well as their elected representatives. However, without sounding
immodest, I would like to believe that it is also an important
milestone in the onward march of democracy worldwide.
Which is why, the
Lok Sabha secretariat has taken the commendable initiative to
organize an international conference to mark the occasion. I am
indeed heartened by the presence of participants from a large
number of countries around the world. In just one Sanskrit word
that carries the warm greetings of one billion people of India,
I would like to say to our foreign guests: Suswagatam! Welcome!
Democracy is that
system in which there can be opposition without hatred, and power
can change hands without resort to violence. It disallows discrimination
on any ground. In this sense, democracy has deep roots in India’s
national ethos and our ancient culture, which teaches respect
for divergent and even dissenting points of view.
Like our Freedom
Movement, the birth and evolution of Parliamentary Democracy in
India was one of the momentous developments in the history of
the world in the 20th century. The Indian mind has
cherished Freedom and Democracy as two indivisible ideals. Hence,
when one-sixth of humanity walked into freedom with one step in
1947, with the very next step India also strode into Parliamentary
democracy. This gave a big fillip to the march of democracy around
the world.
Just as the international
community has cherished India’s successes along the path of democratic
development since our Independence, we too have greatly valued
the victorious march of democracy around the globe. The closing
decades of the last century have seen totalitarian systems collapse.
The dogmas that sustained dictatorships of various stripes, and
advertised their superiority over democracy in development and
human welfare, have crumbled. Coups, bloody power struggles and
military take-overs have come to be seen as anathema to the ethos
of our times. Even rulers in khaki have felt the need to seek
some kind of democratic legitimacy.
If the 20th
century saw the global growth of democracy, the new century should
see its further expansion and enrichment. Especially, we should
develop democracy as an effective instrument for fulfilling people’s
aspirations and resolving conflicts and contentious issues. History
has proved time and again that free and democratic societies are
the ones that are creative, self-corrective and self-regenerative.
The holding of regular elections, the victories and defeats of
individuals and parties, and the periodic change of governments
have many benefits. These make elected representatives accountable;
keep the rulers in check if they develop hunger for power; prevent
rigidity in governance; and dislocate social and economic interests
that would otherwise get vested.
At the same time,
we cannot overlook the many ways in which the Parliamentary system,
including ours, needs to be strengthened. All democracies, especially
in developing countries that have considerable diversities and
carry the burden of developmental imbalances, have had to grapple
with one paramount challenge. And that is: how to harmonise the
legitimate self-assertion of communities that suffered deprivation
and disempowerment in the past with the imperatives of good governance?
One obvious answer
lies in the need to protect and further strengthen the institutions
of democracy. Our ancient seers taught a guru mantra: Dharmo Rakshati
Rakshitah. Dharma, protected, protects. In the same way, institutions,
protected, protect. They can function well only if each of us
adheres to the norms that are the essence of each institution.
If we adhere to the norms of our institutions, the effectiveness
of democracy would go up ten fold, even a hundred fold. If we
don’t, it is imperiled.
There is a second
imperative. Our economies are becoming increasingly integrated.
The demands of our people are ever more pressing. Thereby governance
has become more complex, demanding newer competencies from elected
representatives. All parliamentary democracies, therefore, face
a common challenge: how are we to ensure that the rough and tumble
of electoral politics brings such persons to office who can actually
handle the complex tasks of governance?
In a democracy, there
are bound to be differences among political parties, and there
is bound to be vigorous debate among divergent viewpoints in Parliament.
Differences and their well-researched, articulate expression both
inside and outside Parliament is the very stuff of democracy.
It is what lends vibrancy to democracy. But the vitality of democracy
also demands discipline, constructive approach, and a readiness
to contribute to consensus-building on pressing issues before
the nation -- and adherence to rules. A river flows well only
if the banks are sturdy.
Distinguished delegates,
each of us comes from a different version of the Parliamentary
system. In that sense, we are the repositories of diverse experiences.
Each of our systems has thrown up some particular problem, and
each of our countries has devised some particular solution to
that particular problem. Together we have a wealth of experience
from which to devise solutions to the challenges before us.
For instance,
- Should our Parliaments be allowed
to run their full term?
- Are there ways to ensure stability
of governance and policies, while retaining the vibrancy of
a multi-party democracy?
- Today in several of our countries
we are kept from taking firm decisions because at all times
some election or the other is taking place. Should we, therefore,
schedule elections for all tiers simultaneously?
- Some of our legislatures are not
always the fora they should be for deliberating on policy and
crafting legislations; can presiding officers do more to ensure
that our Houses function efficiently and get more work done?
- How can Parliamentarians strengthen
mutual cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism,
which have become a big threat to peace, democracy and civilized
world order?
I, therefore, suggest
that this conference be a beginning. We should make it a practice
to meet often – and not only ceremonially. We should meet often
and engage in substantive exchanges about our diverse experiences
so that all of us together strengthen Parliamentary democracy
in each of our countries.
My best wishes for
the success of the conference.
Thank You".