Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurates two-day orientation programme for members of Delhi Legislative Assembly

By Sarkaritel August 26, 2015 07:21

Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan addressing Members of Delhi Legislative Assembly in the Chamber of Delhi Legislative Assembly

New Delhi, 25 August 2015: Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the two-days’ Orientation Programme for the Members of Delhi Legislative Assembly today in the Assembly premises. Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Arvind Kejriwal, was the Guest of Honour during the Inaugural Ceremony, which was presided over by the Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly Shri Ram Niwas Goel.

On the occasion, Smt. Mahajan said that both the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Delhi have come to Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, respectively, for the first ti me. Both have the newness and, as such, both the Governments need to maintain harmonious relations between them.

Observing that Delhi’s position in our constitutional scheme is unique, she likened it with a large family where the members of the family stay together, which requires a very good understanding and mutual respect among them. She advised the MLAs to act as a mediator in Delhi’s relationship with the Centre. She hoped that all stakeholders in Delhi’s onward march to growth would work together to make Delhi an ideal place to live.

She noted that the mandate that the representatives of the people get from them reflects faith that the people repose in their representatives and hence honoring the faith is very important. She advised MLAs to be realistic and persuasive while responding to grievances and aspirations of the people so that unrealistic expectations do not increase their predicaments. She also exhorted them to possess knowledge of various conventions, rules, practices and procedures of the House. Crucial to this is the observance of decorum and show of respect to the Chair and fellow legislators.

Smt. Mahajan further stated that the Opposition is not there merely to oppose but also to add worth to government policies. As such, it is the duty of the legislators to ‘discuss, debate, disagree and decide’ issues. In order to serve the people, we should ensure that both the Government and the Opposition engage in the search for a consensus instead of taking the path of confrontation, she felt.