Disruption of legislatures cannot be weaponised as political strategy: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

Stressing that in a democracy, not all issues can be evaluated via a partisan prism, the Vice President urged everyone to rise above partisan stance, giving primacy to the national interest.

“The wit, humour, and sarcasm — once hallmark of exchanges between stalwarts in the Parliament and legislatures — are disappearing from public discourse,” he said, urging legislators to revive the same.

The Vice President noted that the Constitution provides the privilege of freedom of speech within the precincts of the House. However, he cautioned that this freedom should be utilised for a healthy debate to sustain a vibrant democratic tradition and not for disruptive purposes. “Parliament and legislatures are not platforms of free fall of unverified information,” he said.

Emphasising that in any democracy, Parliamentary sovereignty is inviolable, the Vice President said, “essence of democracy lies in the prevalence of the ordainment of the people reflected through legitimised platforms- Parliament and the legislatures.”

Congratulating the people of Kerala and their elected representatives on this milestone of the silver jubilee of their legislative building, said the Kerala Legislative Assembly building represents the will of the people, the spirit of democracy and the essence of the Constitution. As current legislators, you also inherit a shining legacy. It is your duty to make it lustrous,” he said.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Assembly speaker A N Shamseer, and Opposition leader V D Satheesan were among those present on the occasion.