Serve people irrespective of party affiliations: Prez to MLAs

President Ram Nath Kovind today called on the MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh to serve their constituencies and people dedicatedly irrespective of party affiliations.
After dedicating the newly-constructed Assembly building to the people, Kovind said the building was not made of just bricks and cement, but it was a monument where lawmakers plan for the state with a vision for the future.
"You will need to be spacious like the building for your people, who elected you with great hope and aspirations. You must shoulder your responsibilities to keep your voters' aspirations alive and serve them with sincerity," Kovind said in his address during a special session of the Assembly.

Elections are fought on party lines in a parliamentary democracy, but elected representatives are not the MLA of a party but of the entire constituency, the president said.
"It is our utmost duty to look after the problems faced by the people irrespective of caste, community, religion and party line," he added.
Kovind said all decisions in the Assembly should be taken through healthy debates by both ruling and opposition members.

"Sometime we may differ in our opinions but it should not result in disruption of the house," he said and urged the MLAs to maintain the spirit of democracy.

The president also appealed the members to preserve the rich age-old traditions of the state.
"Arunachal Pradesh has been a source of inspiration for the people of the country," he said, referring to Havildar Hangpan Dada of the Rashtiya Rifles who laid down his life after single-handedly killing three terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
He was posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award for valour and courage.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (retd) B D Mishra in his address called on the members to work with accountability and transparency.