Legislators must not forget democratic decency: Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said legislators must not forget democratic decency while exercising their right of democratic dissent.

“Raising issues of public importance is a basic norm of our democracy. Democratic dissent is a right. However, while exercising this right, legislators must not forget democratic decency. At no circumstances, democratic dissent should cast a shadow on democratic decency,” said Patnaik.

The Chief Minister said this at the two-day long orientation programme organised by Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) for the Members of 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly in collaboration with Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik and other MLAs were present on the occasion.

“A country of many diversities, Indian democracy continues to get stronger by each passing year. The roots of our successful democracy lie in our people and their unflinching faith in democratic values. They are the real Masters in a Democracy,” said the Chief Minister.

“I believe; every elected representative must understand this. In whatever position you may be, the people are Supreme. Therefore, elected representatives should keep the common people at the centre of all their initiatives,” he added.

Patnaik said the primary function of the legislature is to make laws.

An appetite for information and education on legislative procedures and understanding of socio-economic issues and policies will certainly help, he added.

“All our Acts and Policies are essentially directed at greater public good. The legislators should also endeavour to bring the Acts and Policies to public domain so that people can be real partners in the process of change,” he informed.