AP Assembly Speaker Underscores India’s Democratic Strength in Barbados Conference
Amaravati: Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly C. Ayyanna Patrudu, while addressing the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Barbados, emphasized the strength of India’s democratic institutions and people-centred governance.
Speaking at the workshop on ‘Strengthening Our Institutions to Support Democracy’ organized as part of the conference on Wednesday, Patrudu said that India’s democratic framework is based on the collective will of the people and the supremacy of the Constitution.
“The Speaker said the Indian Parliament and State Legislatures have been shaping the destiny of the country for 75 years by ensuring peaceful transition of power through transparency, accountability and public authority,” according to a press release issued here on Thursday.
Recalling India’s decision to adopt universal adult suffrage in its first general elections, the statement said more than 97 crore people have participated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, strengthening faith in democratic institutions.
Citing the country’s ‘history of smooth government transitions’, Patrudu stated that Indian democracy remains resilient due to its strong institutional framework and commitment to constitutional values. He noted that the Indian Parliament was among the first parliaments to mandate ‘public declaration of assets by MPs’, which was later adopted by other key institutions.
Referring to more than 100 constitutional amendments made in the last 75 years, he said, “The more dynamic the Constitution, the more vibrant democracy will be.”
Emphasizing the separation of powers, Ayyanna Patrudu said that every institution in India works according to the principle of “The Constitution is supreme and the real masters are the people”.
Quoting former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao (NTR), Ayyanna Patrudu described it as the essence of Indian democracy, saying, “Society is the temple and people are gods.”
He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s words that democracy can only flourish when power is shared by all and called on Commonwealth nations to support people-centered governance.
The 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is scheduled to be held in Barbados from 7-10 October. The speaker will be accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly General Secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, who will represent the southern state’s chapter of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) as a delegate.
