Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

PM’s address at concluding session of 80th All India Presiding Officers Conference

  • Namaskar, There is a confluence of two important occasions on the banks of Mother Narmada and in the proximity of Sardar Patel ji.
  • Greetings to all my fellow Indians on Constitution Day. We pay tributes to all those great women and men who were involved in the making of our Constitution.
  • Today is also Constitution Day and also a conference of presiding officers who play an important role to protect the Constitution.
  • This year is also the centenary year of the conference of presiding officers. Many many congratulations to all of you for this important milestone.
  • Friends, Today is a day to salute all the eminent members of the Constituent Assembly, including Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Baba saheb Ambedkar, because the countrymen got the Constitution through their tireless efforts.
  • Today is the day to pay obeisance to the inspiration of the revered Bapu and the commitment of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel.
  • Many such visionary leader shad laid the foundation for the building of a new independent India.
  • A decision was taken five years ago to celebrate Constitution Day on November 26 with a purpose so that the country should remember those efforts.
  • I congratulate the entire country for this important event of our democracy. Friends, Today’s date is also associated with the biggest terrorist attack on the country.
  • In 2008, terrorists from Pakistan had attacked Mumbai. Many people died in this attack. Nationals from many countries died.
  • I pay my homage to all those who died in the Mumbai attack. Many brave police personnel were also martyred in this attack. I also pay homage to them.
  • India can’t forget the wounds of the Mumbai attack. Now, today’s India is combating terrorism with a new policy and new ways.
  • I also commend our security forces who are geared up for the defence of India by trying to thwart conspiracies like the Mumbai attack and giving a befitting reply to terrorism.
  • Friends, As presiding officers, you have a key role in our democracy. All of you presiding officers are a very important bridge between the Constitution and the common man of the country as law makers.
  • Being an MLA, you are also the Speaker of the House. Therefore, you can play an important role in better harmonization between the three important wings of our Constitution– the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
  • You have discussed it in detail in this conference. The judiciary has its own role to protect the Constitution, but the Speaker is the face of the law making body.
  • The speaker, therefore, is also the first sentinel of the Constitution’s safety net in a way. Friends, Everything from the role of the three wings of the Constitution to decorumis described in the Constitution itself.
  • In the 1970s, we had seen how an attempt was made to dilute the separation of power, but the country got the solution from the Constitution itself.
  • In fact, the system of checks and balance keep getting stronger after the Emergency. All the three wings – legislature, executive and judiciary –moved ahead learning from the episode.
  • That learning is still very relevant today. Efforts have been made in the last 6-7 years to improve better coordination among legislature, executive and judiciary.