Chandigarh, June 8
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region Zone-II Conference commenced in Chandigarh on Monday. The conference, which will continue till June 10, is being attended by Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and officials of various legislatures from different states. During the conference, discussions will be held on parliamentary traditions, democratic processes, the role of public representatives, and various contemporary issues related to public welfare.
The inaugural session began with the National Song, the National Anthem, and the State Song. This was followed by the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp. On the occasion, a special documentary film titled “Haryana 1966–2025” was screened, showcasing the state’s development journey and achievements. Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan welcomed and felicitated the distinguished guests present on the dais.
Among those present were Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, and other distinguished guests.
Addressing the inaugural session, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Sh. Harivansh emphasized the important role of an aware society and public representatives in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He appreciated the visionary initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla, under which CPA India has been divided into nine zones for the first time, making parliamentary dialogue more active, regular and organized.
Harivansh said that the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 can be achieved only through balanced and inclusive development across all regions of the country. He noted that the northern states have a special contribution to make toward this objective. Punjab and Haryana together contribute nearly one-fourth of the country’s wheat production, making them strong pillars of national food security. Despite accounting for only 1.3 percent of India’s geographical area, Haryana contributes 3.6 percent to the national GDP.
He particularly appreciated the Haryana Government’s target of transforming the state into a one-trillion-dollar economy and the establishment of the country’s first Department of Future, backed by a fund of Rs 2,000 crore to promote innovation.
Referring to future technological and environmental challenges, the Deputy Chairman said that public representatives must rise above immediate political concerns and focus on long-term national priorities. He stated that society and legislators must work together to address emerging challenges such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber security, climate change, crop residue management, water scarcity, and rapid urbanization through evidence-based policymaking and continuous engagement with experts.
He said that Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir are playing a significant role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat. These regions have made notable contributions in agriculture, industry, services, infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, and sports.
Harivansh said that over the past decade, India has achieved unprecedented progress in digital technology, space research, startups, healthcare, and education. Digital Public Infrastructure, Aadhaar, UPI, and Direct Benefit Transfer systems have brought new dimensions to good governance, transparency, and service delivery. Today, India is establishing a strong presence among the world’s leading economies and emerging as a reliable and capable partner on the global stage.
He expressed confidence that the conference would pave the way for practical and far-reaching recommendations to further strengthen democratic governance and enhance the effectiveness of public representatives.
An Informed Society and Public Representatives Are the Foundation of Viksit Bharat: Harvinder Kalyan
Addressing the inaugural session, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan said that an aware society and public representatives have a vital role in addressing future challenges and achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat-2047. While an informed society lays the foundation of a strong democracy, public representatives translate societal aspirations into policies and welfare-oriented decisions.
He said that India is the world’s largest democracy, and there is a need to make democratic institutions more effective, transparent, and accountable. He appreciated the efforts being made under the leadership of Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla to connect legislatures across the country through a common parliamentary platform, promote digital transformation, and facilitate the exchange of best parliamentary practices.
Harvinder Kalyan stated that the Haryana Vidhan Sabha is continuously working towards legislative strengthening, capacity building, and constitutional awareness. With the support of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, various training programmes and workshops have been organized for legislators, officials, employees, committee chairpersons, and media representatives. Youth Parliaments and youth conferences are also being organized to connect young people with democratic processes.
He informed that the formation of subject committees related to environment, women empowerment, and youth affairs is an important step toward making the Assembly more capable of addressing future challenges.
Welcoming the Presiding Officers, Deputy Speakers, legislators, and parliamentary officials from various states, Harvinder Kalyan said that this regional platform, comprising Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi, will significantly contribute to strengthening democratic values, exchanging parliamentary experiences, and enhancing the role of public representatives.
He expressed confidence that the various sessions and deliberations during the conference would prove beneficial for participants and generate new ideas and experiences for strengthening democratic institutions.
Democratic Dialogue Will Energize the Resolve of Viksit Bharat: Mahipal Dhanda
On the occasion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda said that dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of experiences among democratic institutions constitute the greatest strength of good governance and nation-building. He expressed confidence that the discussions, suggestions, and experiences shared during the conference would further enrich parliamentary traditions and provide new direction and energy to the national resolve of Viksit Bharat-2047.
