New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the 82nd All India Presiding Officers' Conference on Wednesday via video conferencing and said that doing one's duty should be the mantra for the country for the next 25 years as India heads towards centenary of its Independence, and this message should go out from its Parliament and state legislatures.
PM Modi asserted that it is our legislatures' responsibility to be vigilant about any discordant voice about the country's unity and integrity. The Prime Minister said, "For India, democracy is not just a system. Democracy is India's nature and its natural tendency."
It is our unity that preserves our diversity, he added.
PM Modi further said, "In the yrs to come, we've to take the nation to new heights. We've to achieve extraordinary goals. This resolve can be completed only with the efforts of everyone. When we talk of everyone's efforts in democracy, in India's federal system, the role of all states is its major foundation."
The Prime Minister also pushed the idea of having a separate time for quality and healthy debates in legislatures which should be serious, dignified, and devoid of political potshots at others.
PM Modi said, "One of my ideas is of 'One Nation One Legislative' platform - a portal that'll not only give a technological boost to our Parliamentary system but also work to connect democratic units of the nation."
With Parliament often witnessing disruptions over a variety of issues, Modi said the conduct of lawmakers should be in line with Indian values.
Citing examples of how India achieved major feats by standing together, PM Modi said that the nation fought the big battle against Covid in unity by bringing all the states together, this is historic in itself. Today India has crossed the milestone of 110 crore vaccine doses. Something that seemed impossible once, is now becoming possible
PM Modi said, "Be it the solution to long-pending issues of northeast or completion of big development projects halted for decades - there are numerous works like these that have been completed by the nation in the last few yrs with efforts of everyone. Biggest example- Corona -is before us."