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With the Parliament all set to celebrate its 60th anniversary tomorrow, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said the democracy has been strengthened in the country over this period of time, and emphasized that there are many more challenges that have to be faced ahead and effective steps have to be taken to deal with them. "We strengthened our democracy in the last 60 years. There was a fear that the democracy would come to an end during the time of emergency. But we fought against it and the democracy was re-established. When Babri Masjid was demolished there was again the fear that there will be partition in this country, but we faced the challenges," he said. Yechury further said the Parliament has played a prominent role to keep the democratic system of the country intact. "Despite the ups and downs, Parliament has played a prominent role to keep this democratic system intact. But there are many more challenges to be faced, we also need to take steps to improve the democratic system," he said. Both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will hold special sittings to mark the occasion tomorrow. President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will address the members of both the Houses in the Central Hall of Parliament at 5.30 p.m. President Patil will also release 5-rupee and 10-rupee coins besides releasing publications of the secretariats of both the Houses.

Parliament played prominent role to keep democratic system intact: Yechury