Chandigarh, February 14
Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that legislature is one of the important pillars of democracy, and all members must work hard towards making it stronger. He said that the role of elected representatives is not just to make laws but also to raise the voices of their constituents and work towards solving their problems effectively.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day orientation programme organised for Haryana Vidhan Sabha members on February 14 and 15, 2025 in collaboration with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha.
The Chief Minister said that the two-day programme would focus on brainstorming legislative procedures. He said that all the members must realise the great responsibility given to them by the people and to act as true representatives of Haryana, beyond personal ideologies. Once inside the Assembly, members should prioritise the dignity, smooth functioning, and prestige of the House, said the Chief Minister.
As the leader of the House, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that democratic traditions would be upheld, and discussions would be conducted with a spirit of unity rather than individual interests and every member’s voice in the assembly will be heard.
The Chief Minister said that we are first and foremost members of this esteemed Assembly and then belong to different political parties. The Haryana Assembly has always upheld strong legislative traditions, and new principles and standards will also be established. Just as Haryana has made a name for itself in development and public welfare, it should also set an example in legislative excellence as well. To effectively frame laws and policies in the state’s interest he emphasised the need for more assembly sittings. When the 15th Haryana Vidhan Sabha was formed, the government resolved to rise above politics and focus on meaningful debates, discussions, and addressing public concerns, he added.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini stated that members must remember when they speak in the Assembly, they represent not just themselves but the voices of lakhs of citizens. He said that the 14th Assembly held 16 sessions with 76 sittings were held, while the 13th had 15 sessions with 84 sittings. Similarly, 11 sessions and 56 sittings in the 12th Vidhan Sabha, 12 sessions and 70 sittings in the 11th Vidhan Sabha and 66 sittings in 14 sessions in the 10th Vidhan Sabha.
The Chief Minister said that this productive atmosphere was possible because both the ruling and opposition parties actively participated in running the House and 15th Vidhan Sabha session will also have meaningful debates, discussions in the interest of the state and will respect each other’s views as well.
The Chief Minister said that all legislators will uphold the dignity of the House. He acknowledged that disagreements are natural in a democracy but maintaining decency is essential. He said that if everyone works with the spirit of “Nation First,” every decision made in the Assembly will ultimately serve the best interests of the people.
*Public representatives must rise above ideology and contribute to nation building: Harvinder Kalyan*
Speaker of Haryana Assembly Sh. Harvinder Kalyan said after being elected as a public representative, the role of a politician changes, so all public representatives should rise above their ideology and discharge their duties with the aim of nation building, progress of the state and public welfare.
He expressed gratitude to Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla for organizing the two-day orientation program in collaboration with Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE)-Lok Sabha and said a campaign is being run under the leadership of the Lok Sabha Speaker to strengthen the legislative institutions. Under this, various training programs are being organized.
He said the representatives of the people have a key role in the success of the Parliamentary system. The interests of the people and the country are protected by the efficiency of the legislature. The success of these institutions depends on the working style of the members. Therefore, the public representatives should have knowledge of the Constitution, rules, methods, laws and practices of the Parliamentary system; knowledge and information about day-to-day activities related to governance and administration; knowledge of public problems and ways to solve them; and leadership skills.
He said the Vidhan Sabha is an institution made up of public representatives and works for the public through these representatives. Parliament and state legislatures have special powers and rights to carry out parliamentary work.
He said a two-day training program was organized for the officers and employees of the Vidhan Sabha just 2 months ago. In the coming times, such programs will continue to be organized with the cooperation of PRIDE and HIPA.
Sh. Harvinder Kalyan said today preserving the environment and keeping the youth away from drugs are important issues. In the coming times, work will be done to form a committee on youth affairs and environment in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, which will take these issues forward in collaboration with the government. He said we are all fortunate to have got the opportunity to serve the people through the Vidhan Sabha. Therefore, we all should participate in making India a developed nation by 2047.
Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Sh. Satish Mahana said it is a matter of pride to be a member of the Legislative Assembly. Our honour and prestige is due to being a member of the Legislative Assembly, so the elected members should protect the dignity of the House. He said the members should never behave in such a way or conduct themselves which puts a question mark on the legislative institutions. He said the public elects us as public representatives, so we should work together for the benefit of the state.
The orientation program was also addressed by Deputy Speaker of Haryana Legislative Assembly Dr. Krishan Lal Middha and Member Sh. B.B. Batra.
