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Asserting that parliament is not only a legislative but a deliberative body, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the resilience of the Indian democracy is the proudest achievement of the Indian state. Addressing a special sitting of the Rajya Sabha to mark 60 years of Parliament, Dr. Singh said: "This House has a unique position in our republic. Through the deliberations of the day we have maintained a spirit of national bonding. The members of the House contributed to national consensus on critical issues." "Many great leaders served this House with great distinction. Parliament is not only a legislative but also a deliberative body. This House has always been a repository of wisdom that proved valuable in the function of the House. This House has passed landmark legislations from land reforms to nationalisation of banks," he added. Asserting that India have repeatedly reposed faith in democracy, Dr. Singh said: ". In recent years, they are making their voice heard more forcefully by voting in higher numbers in parliamentary, state assembly and panchayat elections." Emphasising that India 's unflinching commitment to democracy is the reason behind the country's growing global stature, Dr. Singh said: "One of the reasons for our growing global stature in the world is our unflinching commitment to pursuing the democratic path to achieving social and economic salvation." "It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to respect the great institutions of our democracy and respect the spirit of what is expected from the elected representatives," he added. Referring to disruptions in the House, Dr. Singh said: "We should reflect on the disruptions and occasional unwillingness for meaningful discussions." "That is not to say that we should not reflect with concern on the repeated disruptions of proceedings and a regrettable unwillingness, on occasion, to engage in informed discussion," he added. The Parliament is having a special sitting on Sunday to mark 60 years of the first session of the Lok Sabha. Two living members of the first Lok Sabha Reishang Keishing and Resham Lal Jangde will be hounoured on the occasion. Ninety-one-year old Keishing, a member of the Rajya Sabha, was a member of the first and third Lok Sabhas, while Jangde was member of first, second and ninth Lok Sabhas. President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will address members of both Houses in the Central Hall of Parliament at 5.30 p.m. She will also release five-rupee and 10-rupee coins and publications of the secretariats of both the Houses on the auspicious occasion. A cultural programme featuring Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sitarist Debu Chaudhuri, Carnatic vocalist Maharajapuram Ramachandran, versatile singer Shubha Mudgal and Iqbal Khan will light up the evening. India became a Republic on November 26, 1949, but the first general elections were only held in 1951-52. Constituted on April 17, 1952, the Lok Sabha held its first session from May 13, 1952.

Parliament maintains spirit of national bonding: PM