MPs have responsibility towards poor, underprivileged: President

NEW DELHI, Aug 1:
Members of Parliament were accountable for the hopes and aspirations of millions of citizens and this was a big responsibility, President Ram Nath Kovind said here on Wednesday after presenting the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2013-2017 to five distinguished MPs.
The Parliamentarians included Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla (for 2013), Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (BJP), Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress), Dinesh Trivedi (TMC), Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD). Speaking on the occasion, the President said the people of India, especially the poor and the underprivileged, look upon their representatives with great expectations.
Addressing Parliamentarians in the Central Hall of Parliament he said: “They nurture the expectation that their representatives will make every effort to improve their lives and those of their children. And for this reason they want to see their representatives busy and relentlessly at work for the welfare of common citizens.”
“In Parliament, people expect discussions on their problems and suggestions on the resolution of these problems. To meet the expectations of the people of India is the touchstone we must use to judge the efficacy of the parliamentary system,” he said.
Pointing out that the soul of Indian democracy lay in Parliament, Mr Kovind said, “MPs are not just representatives of a particular party or constituency. They are the trustees of our constitutional ideals. All MPs are accountable for the hopes and aspirations of millions of our citizens. This is a very big responsibility.”
Congratulating the award winners, he said that as Parliamentarians, each of them had added value to the proceedings of the House. “ They had done so while maintaining the dignity of Parliament, using their knowledge and wisdom. They have conducted themselves in a manner that is a model for other members,” he added.
Among others who spoke on the occasion were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and the award winners. (UNI)

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