Chandigarh, 22 January 2025:
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, participated in the 85th All India Presiding Officer’s Conference held in Patna, Bihar on January 21-22, 2025. During his visit, he also paid homage at the Stupa in Vaishali, a sacred site associated with Lord Buddha, which is also known as the birthplace of the world’s first Republic.
In his address at the conference, Speaker Sandhwan extended his congratulations to Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Shri Nand Kishore Yadav, Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, along with all the presiding officers from various states. He commended their collective efforts in enhancing the dignity of Indian democracy. Sandhwan emphasized that the Indian Constitution is not just a historical event but represents a continuous and interconnected guiding framework for modern democracy. He highlighted that it is not only the responsibility of the legislature, executive, and judiciary to uphold the Constitution but also the duty of every Indian citizen, given the long struggle for freedom behind it.
Further, Speaker Sandhwan expressed concern over the limited scope of current educational material in children’s syllabi, which, while essential, fails to provide an accurate representation of the functioning of Parliament and legislatures. He suggested that schoolchildren be encouraged to observe the actual proceedings of legislative bodies, thereby fostering greater understanding and curiosity about the democratic process. To this end, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has started inviting students to observe House sessions, a move he described as highly positive for the future of young minds.
During his stay in Bihar, Speaker Sandhwan was warmly welcomed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Bihar Spokesperson Dr. Hem Narayan Vishwakarma and AAP leader Bablu Prakash, who presented him with a statue of Lord Buddha. In his remarks, Sandhwan expressed his pride in visiting Vaishali, a land of historical significance, being the site of the first Republic in the world. He called for the global promotion and preservation of this heritage.
Speaker Sandhwan also thanked Shri Nand Kishore Yadav, Speaker of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, for the excellent arrangements made during his visit. He stressed the need for collective efforts to revive the importance of Vaishali and to promote India’s rich cultural heritage on the world stage.
