Patna, July 30 (ABN) Bihar Assembly Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar said that the success of democracy lies in the spirit that the opinions of the members of the assembly can be different, but the goal of national and social interest should be one.

Welcoming the members of the assembly on the opening of the five-day monsoon session, the Speaker said that this sacred hall of Indian democracy is the highest forum of the democratic system, where the expectations, hopes, and problems of the people are solved in accordance with the constitutional limits.

He said that it is not just a platform for legislation, but a living symbol of public sentiments, public welfare, and the spirit of the constitution. Every debate and discussion that takes place here affects the lives of millions of people, so this house is the highest center of dialogue, courtesy, dignity, and responsibility.

Dr. Prem Kumar congratulated all the members who recently participated with enthusiasm in the two-day training program held at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD) in Gaya.

He informed that in this program, eminent experts from the country and the state presented their views on important topics such as parliamentary proceedings, legislation, and budget-related matters, committee system, NeVA, and future possibilities, special rights and protocol of members, parliamentary procedure, and the role of public representatives.

He said that he is confident that the knowledge and experience gained from this training program will help make the proceedings of the house more purposeful, organized, and people-friendly.

The Speaker, quoting the Rigveda mantra "Aa no bhadraah kratavo yantu vishvatah", said that its meaning is that ideas of welfare and prosperity should come to us from all directions.

Referring to the Upanishads, he said that we should lead from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality.

Dr. Prem Kumar said that as a public representative, it is the duty of everyone to perform their duties with full honesty and make public service their top priority.

He said that the real dharma of a public representative is also to give utmost importance to public welfare, rising above personal interests.

He further said that in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, summarizing the Raj Dharma, it has been said that the purpose of the government is to ensure the protection, justice, and prosperity of the subjects, and this is the spirit of Indian democracy.

He said that the great saints and thinkers of India have always given the message of public welfare and prosperity.

The Assembly Speaker recalled the words of Swami Vivekananda, "Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is achieved."

He said that today our goal is to build a prosperous, educated, developed, and self-reliant Bihar.

Quoting the words of Mahatma Gandhi, he said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

He said that if we set an example of discipline, courtesy, and positive dialogue in the house, democracy will become stronger.

He also recalled the quote of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, "However good a constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will not be successful."

He said that similar responsibility and character are expected from public representatives.

Dr. Prem Kumar, paying tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, said that he used to give utmost importance to national unity and integrity and used to say, "The nation is paramount, there can be no interest greater than its interest."

He said that the land of Bihar has been a land of knowledge, asceticism, sacrifice, and democratic traditions.

This is the land where Lord Buddha gave the message of compassion, Lord Mahavira showed the path of non-violence, Chanakya presented the concept of good governance, while Nalanda and Vikramshila gave the world the light of knowledge.

He also referred to the verses of Rashtra Kavi Ramdhari Singh "Dinkar":
"Those who remain neutral, even time will record their crime."

He said that these verses convey the message of playing a purposeful and positive role.

He quoted another famous quote of Dinkar, "When a person tries with full force, even stone becomes water."

The Assembly Speaker expressed confidence that all the members of the house will perform their duties with more skill and effectiveness.

He said that this house is a platform for discussion and debate, not for confrontation; a platform for argument, not for bitterness; and a platform for solving problems, not for conflict.

He said that the people have sent all the members here as representatives of their trust, so every word spoken here, every decision made, and every behavior is connected to the dignity of democracy.

He appealed to the members to participate actively, factually, and constructively in the question hour, zero hour, legislative business, and discussions on various subjects during this five-day session.

He said that there should be meaningful and result-oriented discussions on important topics such as development, education, health, agriculture, industry, employment, women's empowerment, youth future, social harmony, environmental protection, and good governance.