Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said under the leadership of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, sustained efforts are being made to strengthen dialogue, cooperation and knowledge-sharing among legislators across the country.
Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-II conference, along with Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan and Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody, he said nearly 40 speakers participated in the two-day event and representatives from various political parties and ideological backgrounds engaged in serious discussions with a common objective and unanimously endorsed important resolutions.
He further stated that the CPA and other parliamentary forums regularly review the decisions taken in previous meetings to assess progress, identify gaps, and ensure effective implementation.
“Continuous consultations with state legislatures are undertaken to further strengthen these initiatives and improve their outcomes”, he said.
The presiding officers unanimously adopted four key resolutions during the valedictory session of the conference.
The conference underscored that an informed society, strong democratic institutions, capable public representatives and the wider use of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven decision-making processes tends to make public service delivery more transparent, efficient and accessible.
Harivansh said one of the key initiatives has been to enhance dialogue and cooperation among nearly 5,000 legislators, including MLAs and legislative councils across the country.
These interactions provide a valuable platform for discussing issues of national importance and sharing best practices among legislatures.
He informed that CPA India Region has been divided into various zones to ensure broader participation and provide greater opportunities for legislators to contribute their views. The Zone-II Conference hosted by Haryana brought together delegates from Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.
On the subject of AI, he said that delegates extensively discussed both the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies. Special emphasis was placed on the positive and responsible use of this evolving technology in legislative institutions and governance.
Responding to questions regarding parliamentary functioning, he said that despite political differences, all legislators represent the people and are committed to strengthening democratic governance through dialogue and cooperation.
He also pointed out that a long-established parliamentary convention ensures that political parties are allotted speaking time in proportion to their numerical strength in the House.
This arrangement helps ensure that all viewpoints are adequately represented and that every section of the House has an opportunity to participate in debates and discussions.
Meanwhile, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan said the two-day North Zone Conference proved to be an important platform for meaningful deliberations on strengthening democratic institutions, realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047, and addressing future challenges.
