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Smiling faces greet Governor

Special Correspondent

Best Legislator award given to Pradhyumna Singh, Kalicharan Saraf

Pratibha Patil

JAIPUR: Smiling faces greeted Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil this time in the Assembly when she visited it on the concluding day of the Budget session on Tuesday to give away the awards to the Best Legislators for the year 2005-06 and 2006-07. Her previous visit, slightly more than a month back, was stormy when she had to leave the Assembly within 10 minutes after she commenced her customary address on the opening day of the session due to noisy protests from the Opposition.

"It is all the more important to keep the dignity of the House going by the watch kept by the media these days," Ms.Patil said after giving away awards to Pradhyumna Singh of the Congress (2005-06) and Kalicharan Saraf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (2006-07). "This kind of award is a honour to the whole House. It helps to maintain healthy traditions," she said.

Ms.Patil appreciated the fact the three women, herself, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Speaker Sumitra Singh, were seated on the dais at the function and attributed it to the people of the State. "This is also a reflection of the attitude of the people here. Rajasthan is upholding its fine traditions and values," she noted.

Speaker Ms.Singh in her address expressed concern over growing impatience among the legislators. "At the slightest provocation the Opposition members rush to the well or shout slogans. With the ruling party members it has been absence of answerability," she noted. "Tolerance is the soul of democracy," she reminded them.

"Healthy competition among the members helps," Ms.Raje, in her address noted. The practice of giving annual award to an MLA chosen as the "Best Legislator" by a House panel began during the present Assembly. Nathu Singh Gurjar of the BJP was the first recipient of the award in 2004-05. "Our thoughts converge when it comes to the development of Rajasthan. Our dream is to see Rajasthan emerging as a front ranking State," she said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Ramnarain Choudhary, speaking on the occasion said the award would help to keep the MLAs disciplined. Referring to the Speaker's comments on growing indiscipline, Mr.Choudhary said: "The Opposition has to play its role actively. Otherwise democracy gets weak".

On reminding by Ms.Singh about his partymen disturbing the Governor's address last month, Mr.Choudhary clarified that they had nothing against the Governor. "We were expressing our angst against the State Government. Otherwise we have high regards for her," he assured the House.

The bonhomie was to continue even after the House dispersed around 6 PM. For Ms.Raje had invited the MLAs, senior bureaucracy and media persons to witness the filming of the Hindi movie, "Guru" at a multiplex at 7 PM and for dinner thereafter.

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