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Describing India as a "functioning democracy" and not a "perfect democracy", the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Sunday said: "Our democracy has passed through many testing times." Addressing a special session of a joint sitting of Parliament to mark the 60th anniversary of the first session of Parliament, Dr. Singh said: "At every turn, the people of India have with great enthusiasm and hope reiterated their faith in the democratic character of our state and reaffirmed the pluralistic character of our polity and society. Among democracies around the world, India has one of the highest voter turn-outs in elections." Dr. Singh further said: "We should firmly reject those who would mock the institutions of our democracy that have developed over decades of experience. We are not a perfect democracy. But we are a functioning democracy with mechanisms and safeguards that allow for the reconciliation of diverse interests and differences of opinion. It is the vitality and vibrancy of our democracy that keeps the nation united and moving on the path of progress." In his address, which was delivered at a special function in the Central Hall of Parliament, Dr. Singh said: “The Sixtieth Year occupies a very special place in the hearts and minds of our people. The ancient calendars devised by our forefathers, that we still use to mark our time in this world, have a cycle of sixty years. Thus, life begins anew for us every sixty years." Dr. Singh said the story of the Indian Parliament is a story of the human striving for freedom and dignity; for tolerance and equality; for peace and progress. "Our Parliament has not just voiced the concerns and aspirations of the Indian people alone, but those of all human kind, of every freedom loving person who seeks a life of dignity and peace. Our Parliament stands as a unique representation of the values that created our Republic – of unity in diversity, of secularism, of pluralism and of the rule of law," said Singh. "How we conduct ourselves, how the Parliament conducts itself, is therefore, a way of showing respect to these values and to the memory of those who created and built this symbol of freedom and dignity. Each one of us owes it to those who sent us here to not only represent their views and their interests, but to do so with dignity, compassion and decorum," he added. The Prime Minister said that he was aware that many people often feel frustrated by the disruption of Parliament. "In our own way, each one of us shares the blame for this state of affairs. However, we are proud of the fact that both Houses of Parliament have often burnt the proverbial midnight oil to discuss and debate some of the most important issues that concern the people of India and the world," he said. "It is a matter of great pride that our Parliament has debated and approved some of the most progressive legislations anywhere in the world such as those relating to the right to education, the right to guaranteed employment for the rural poor, the right to information, the legislation conferring gender equality, protecting the life and livelihood of the girl child and women and legislations that have widened social and economic opportunities for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and religious minorities," he added. "These august Houses have witnessed many great debates that stirred the imagination of the people. They have seen sparkling wit, humour and eloquence from Members from all sides. The wisdom of their thoughts has echoed far beyond these walls," Singh said. He, however, described as unfortunate the decline in the number of serious discussions in Parliament in recent years. "We have to revive this tradition of reasoned and constructive debate in Parliament on the issues of the day. This is the only way to earn the people's respect, lead public opinion and provide media with serious content that will raise the level of public discourse as in other mature democracies," Dr. Singh said. He said that he sincerely hoped that life would begin anew for Parliament and for the people of India , and prayed that the year ahead would be productive, peaceful and prosperous for the nation. "In the final analysis, it is the Members of Parliament who will individually and collectively determine how effectively Parliament represents the aspirations of the people and guides the destiny of our country," Dr. Singh concluded.

India not a perfect democracy, but a functioning democracy: PM