File photo of Pranab Mukherjee
President Pranab Mukherjee today addressed members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in Shillong. Speaking on the occasion, the president advised the legislative assemblies to work longer hours and hold more sessions. Below is the full text of the statement.
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Press Release
Hold more sessions, sit longer hours, President tells Legislative Assemblies
The President Pranab Mukherjee addressed members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today (October 21, 2013) at Shillong.
Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the members of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on the large turn out in the last Assembly elections and also for transacting business with least disruption. He expressed his hope that other Assemblies will emulate Meghalaya Assembly.
The President said that Legislative Assembly is the master of Executive in matters of taxation and finance. The time devoted to discussion on financial matters is not enough and Assemblies could hold more frequent sessions, sit for longer periods. This is essential if democracy has to be strengthened. Any one in an elected office has begged for votes to come to his office. Disruption of proceedings and preventing others from speaking is a betrayal of the trust placed by voters on their representatives.
The President stated that Democracy cannot succeed unless institutions are built up. Democracy has survived in India because our founding fathers put in place strong institutions.
The President said Legislative Assemblies should respond to the issues of the day and should be accessible to civil society.
Also present on the occasion were Dr. K.K. Paul, Governor of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Mr. Abu Taher Mondal, Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
For immediate release.
This release issued at 1850 hrs.
(Venu Rajamony)
Press Secretary to the President
21.10.2013