Vice President and Lok Sabha Speaker visit Central Hall and Chambers of Parliament on 68th years of 1st sittings

On the occasion of 68th year of the first sittings of Parliament of India, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla; Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi; Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan today visited the historic Central Hall of Parliament House and Chambers of Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha.

On the occasion, Naidu and Birla discussed about various memories and experiences of the First Sittings of the two Houses.

Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated the people on this occasion and observed that today is a momentous day for Indian democracy. Shri Birla said that it was on 13 May 1952, that both Houses of Parliament – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, held their first sittings after Independence.

Birla underlined the fact that democratic traditions in India have strong roots since ancient times and as such, its democratic institutions have contributed immensely in the task of nation-building. He further said that our Parliament has been playing a pivotal role in realizing the cherished ideals of the Constitution, participatory democracy, social justice and ensuring that citizens get their rightful economic, social, political and cultural rights.

Lok Sabha Speaker also observed that it is a matter of great pride that during the past seven decades, we have surmounted innumerable obstacles and have successfully safeguarded and consolidated our Constitution and the democratic principles of governance. Noting that whenever any challenge has confronted our country in the past, people of our great nation have collectively come together to face it, Birla expressed the hope that with the united efforts of our countrymen, we will be successful in overcoming the COVID-19 epidemic too.