18th All India Whips Conference

All Legislative Assemblies and Councils to Become Digital: Union Minister

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has said that for the success of the parliamentary democracy the quality of debates should be at a level, should be healthy and in public interest. We need to ensure that the bill which are in public interest not get stuck due to the ruckus in the house. She said in the house, we have to agree to disagree and respect the views presented by the members.

Smt. Raje was addressing the 18th All India Whips conference at Udaipur on Monday. She said cordiality and grace about political opponent and their views should always exist and debate should never be a personal attack. Remembering her stint as an MP in Loksabha, she said former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and Late Meenu Masani ji had laid best example in parliamentary democracy. Democratic debate was held up during their time, she said. We can learn a lot from the parliamentary values they have set, she said. She also remembered the former Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and said as a member of Legislative Assembly he had always promoted the young members for healthy debate in the house.

The Chief Minister said the role of Whip is important in the parliamentary system. As a floor manager, the government Chief Whip has to do away with differences and consult the members of opposition to run the house smoothly.

Addressing the conference, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Anant Kumar said the Center has made provision of Rs. 750 crores to make all Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils digital and paperless. Under ‘e-Vidhan’ all Legislative Assemblies will be digital and paperless in the next five years. The Center would bear expenditure for ‘e-Vidhan’ of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, he said.

The Union Minister said due to the efforts made by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje the average working days of Rajasthan Assembly have increased. The Union Minister said Hospitality is the rich tradition and part of culture in Rajasthan. The Chief Minister was given standing ovation by the dignitaries sitting on the Dias, Whips, parliamentarians and other delegates for the hospitality of Smt. Raje.

The Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Vijay Goyal said Whips play important role in the house as they have to manage their own party members and the members of opposition as well. He advocated simplification of rules of the procedure and changes according to the requirements of present time.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said this conference shall be an important part to make suggestions regarding strengthening the parliamentary democracy in the country. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Rajasthan Shri Rajendra Rathore informed about the progress of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in the direction of paperless work.

Home Minister Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Whip in Loksabha Shri Rakesh Singh, Chief Whip in Rajyasabha Shri Narayan Panchariya, Udaipur MP Shri Arjun Lal Meena were also present in the conference.

In the beginning Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Rajiv Yadav divulged the details about the activities of the two-day conference.

The Chief Minister and other dignitaries released the Coffee Table Book ‘New India-We Resolve to Make’ published by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, Govt. of India.

Udaipur/ Jaipur, 8 January 2018