Indian democracy functioning well: AP Minister

Hyderabad, Nov 24 (UNI) Smooth transition of power from one party to another is the strength of the Indian democracy, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah said, here today.

Addressing the '24th Parliamentary Internship Programme, which was attended by 43 foreign parliamentary officials, Mr Rosaiah said ''democratic system in the country has not only survived, but functioned well in the last 61 years.'' ''People's verdict prevails. The change of government has been smooth without any hitch or ugly turns,'' he added.

Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy said India had emerged as a role model for emerging democracies to adopt various good practices.

In Andhra Pradesh, one of the six states having bicameral legislature in the country, bills were debated thorougly in both the Houses, he added.

Legislative Council Speaker A Chakrapani said various House Committees continued to function even when both the Houses of Legislature did not have sittings.

However, the Opposition parties, which were supposed to observe the ''rules of the game,'' were found to be lacking the right spirit, he opined.

Parliamentary officials from various nations, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Croatia, Ecowas, Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan, attended the programme.

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