Legislators engage in series of discussions on Day 2 of NLC Bharat..

Legislators engage in series of discussions on Day 2 of NLC Bharat

Mumbai, June 16, 2023

With a staggering 2,200 registrations, the second day of the groundbreaking National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) began, brimming with energy and anticipation.

The second day of the National Legislators' Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) commenced with the inauguration of the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Innovation Expo at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai, at hands of the Chief Guest, Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, Shri. Om Birla. Other dignitaries present at the occasion were Shri. Chandrakant Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Higher and Technical Education, Textile Industry, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. RA Mashelkar, Padma Vibhushan and renowned scientist, Prof. Anil Gupta, Padma Shri, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, Shri. Anant Singhania, President, Indian Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CEO of JK Enterprises, Shri Rajeev Sethi, Padma Bhushan and noted Indian designer, Dr Vishwanath Karad, Founder of MIT WPU, and Shri. Rahul V Karad, Founder, MIT School of Government and Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad and Convener of NLC Bharat. 

The unique expo, in line with the theme of Bharat's 75th year of independence, paid homage to the spirit of democracy. It showcased the nation's true achievements – ‘Commendable Practices by Selected 75 MLAs on Constituency Development’, ‘75 Commendable Startups’, ‘75 Commendable Programmes of States and UTs’, and ‘75 Commendable Democratic Practices from other Democratic Countries in the World’.

Addressing the gathering of legislators, Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, said, “Today, NLC Bharat is taking place in the commercial and economic land of Mumbai. This is a land of valor, courage, pride, culture, and knowledge. It is the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sant Namdev, and Savitribai Phule. This land has its own influence, and today in Maharashtra, we embark on a new vision, a new resolution. I am thrilled that distinguished speakers from different states and various political ideologies have gathered here for this historic conference. We are here to engage in discussions and contemplation on how to strengthen our legislative institutions. For the next two days, we will delve into discussions and from this, the nectar will flow, spreading the essence of Indian democracy throughout the world.”

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, “I believe that NLC Bharat is a platform that will rejuvenate India’s democracy and enrich the values of our parliamentary system. We all know that Prime Minister Modi has referred to the next 25 years as the ‘Amrit Kaal’ (Era of Transformation), and during this era, our aim is to make India a developed nation. In my opinion, everyone present at this conference plays a significant role. While our thoughts and paths may differ, our instrument is the same - democracy, and our goal is to elevate India to new heights. Ultimately, we all have a common destination. Together, with our respective perspectives, we must move towards that destination.” 

Dr Vishwanath Karad, said, “Connecting with one's soul is an essential aspect, deeply rooted in Indian culture. It represents the ultimate reality, consciousness.”

Advocate Rahul Narwekar, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, affirmed the strength of parliamentary governance, acknowledging its imperfections while highlighting its superiority. He said: “Parliamentary forms of governance may have their shortcomings, but I can assure you that it is the best among the rest. In a federal structure like ours, with diverse cultures and distinct patterns, I believe a platform like this provides a unique opportunity for the exchange of thoughts, views, and implementing ideas discussed here, in our respective states.”

The Day 2 of the Conference also witnessed legislators from various corners of the nation and different political affiliations attending Thematic Parallel Sessions and Round Table discussions on a host of topics. They engaged in a series of roundtable discussions, including sessions with political leaders on the topic of 'Bharat@2047: Our Vision’, 'Spiritualization of Politics', among others. In addition, 25 parallel sessions covered diverse themes such as stress management in public life, sustainable development, welfare schemes for upliftment, leveraging technology for economic welfare, and commendable legislative practices.

Rahul Karad, Convenor of NLC Bharat, said, “This kind of churning is happening for the first time and the way our legislators have responded to the idea of NLC Bharat reflects their maturity. The outcomes of this conference will be very positive."

In the evening, participants from all the states, donned their traditional attire and walked the ramp. The ‘Ramp of Democracy’ was hosted by legendary singer and Padma Shri Usha Uthup, who weaved together the tunes of Bharat in many languages.

Additionally, NLC Bharat witnessed heartwarming gestures as representatives from various states presented special Mithai (sweets) as tokens of goodwill, symbolising unity and solidarity. States like Mizoram, Bihar, Darbhanga, Kota, Madhuban, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and others generously shared soil and water from their regions, fostering a sense of camaraderie and emotional connection among the attendees.