Raipur
Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh addressed the 11th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region conference in Bengaluru from 11-13 September. He spoke on the theme “Dialogue and Discussion: The Foundation of Public Trust and a Means to Fulfill Public Aspirations.” Assembly Secretary Dinesh Sharma was also present at the event.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Singh said that parliaments and assemblies are the backbone of any democratic system. He said they are not just law-making bodies but platforms where the trust and aspirations of the public are shaped. Dr Singh said dialogue and discussion in legislative bodies are not just formal processes; they are the soul of a democracy. A democracy thrives only when legislative institutions engage in open-minded dialogue and rational discussion.
Dr Singh said the debates that take place in legislative institutions are not just arguments. They are intellectual exercises that determine the future of the nation. He said laws and policies should reflect the needs and concerns of all sections of society, not just the interests of one class or group. Dr Singh said legislative bodies are not just arenas for debate; they are centres for resolving problems. When issues concerning farmers, the youth, and women are discussed on legislative platforms, they give the government a direction on which areas need immediate attention and which solutions are most appropriate.
He said the soul of a democracy lies in dialogue, and when dialogue weakens, the credibility of democracy begins to falter. Parliament, which should be a platform for solving people’s problems, often becomes a place of political confrontation and noise, due to which important issues remain unheard. This also hurts public trust, he said. Dr Singh also noted the lack of deep discussion in the House on technical subjects such as energy crises, cybersecurity, environment, and health.
Dr Singh said, “The Speaker is the guardian of a democracy. Their impartiality, discretion, and firmness are the strength that keeps dialogue and discussion alive and strengthens public trust.“
