President Shanker Dayal Sharma yesterday conferred the outstanding parliamentarian award 1996 to veteran CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee for his long and distinguished contribution as a member of Parliament.
Vice-President K R Narayanan, Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah, leader of opposition A B Vajpayee, several Union ministers and Parliament members were present at the function held in central hall of Parliament.
Somnath Chaterjee is the fourth parliament member to be conferred this award, given by the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG). Indrajit Gupta, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Chandrashekhar are the earlier recipents.
The President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker lauded Chatterjee for the important role he played during his 25 years in Parliament.
Sharma said Chaterjee represented the people with full commitment, dedication and sincerity and on several occasions guided the formation of public opinion on key national issues.Unfailingly, he has articulated a national vision unencumbered by regional, sectional or group interests and has exemplified the approach advocated by an outstanding parliamentarian, Sharma said.
His debating skills, lucid articulation, command over parliamentary practice and procedure, willingness to hear and give due weight to the other side, power of repartee, and his courteousness, sense of justice and fair play, comprise the gift of a parliamentarian of first quality, he said.
