Parliament at 60: Leaders reiterate the need for good governance

New Delhi: Absentees and repeated disruptions cast a shadow over the 60th anniversary of the first sitting of Parliament, where senior leaders on Sunday reiterated the need for good governance.

The daylong special sitting, meant to be a stock-taking exercise of sorts, was marked by empty benches even during the early hours of the proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Young MPs were conspicuous by their absence. However, those present took the opportunity to address the concerns of their constituencies.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to parliamentarians "to lead by example" to address people's "frustration and disillusionment".

The day ended with Speaker Meira Kumar and Chairman Hamid Ansari moving a resolution to uphold and maintain the dignity, sanctity and supremacy of Parliament to make it an effective instrument of change.

Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Singh expressed concern over "repeated disruptions" and "unwillingness" for discussions. "I hope the House members can write a new chapter and restore to it the sense of dignity and decorum that is expected of a House of Elders," he said.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani said if parliamentarians show respect towards each other and different ideologies, a solution to every problem can be found through debate and discussion. "I believe that the key to success of democracy in India was the respect it shows to different ideologies. Parliament is the biggest example of this," he said.