Patil asks MPs not to voice dissent at cost of serious debate

In her farewell speech to Parliamentarians here, Patil pointed out that varied political thinking is a part of any legislature and more in a country as large and diverse as India. Though this adds to the "vibrancy" of our democratic institutions, it also poses a challenge as a multiplicity of expectations are to be met.

"Naturally, there will be arguments in the process of the search for answers, but it should never happen that in the din we loose our way forward. At the end of the day, the worth, value and respect of a legislature, is judged by its output in terms of serious debate and legislations," she said.

Patil's tenure had seen the washout of the whole winter session of Parliament in 2010 when BJP-led NDA insisted on formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2G Spectrum scam. Disruptions and walkouts have become more frequent in recent months.

The outgoing President also pointed out that in the last two decades there have been changes "such as information explosion, technological innovations, increasing economic prosperity, growing materialism and in its midst the danger of losing values".

Patil said governments and legislatures need to seriously reflect on these fundamental changes.

"If unnoticed, our systems and institutions could be out-of-size and out-of-time. Therefore, deep thought should be given by Hon'ble Members to how our institutions, our administrative practices, legislatures and legal processes, can fulfil these growing demands and responsibilities effectively," Patil said. (MORE)