Shimla: Kuldeep Singh Pathania, the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, on Thursday, proposed an initiative following his recent tour of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. Addressing the media in Shimla, the Speaker announced his intention to hold a special session of the Assembly focused solely on development, ethical governance, and global collaboration, avoiding political debates.
“If we start this, it will be a landmark initiative, and we will be the first in the country,” said Pathania, emphasising the importance of non-partisan discussions in fostering progress. He revealed plans to consult the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition to bring this idea to fruition.
The Speaker also confirmed that the winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held in Dharamshala from December 18 to 21, featuring four sittings to complete the Assembly’s target of 27 sittings for the year.
He said that the CPA Conference is a ‘Vision for Ethical Governance’. Pathania’s recent participation in the 67th Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Sydney, Australia, inspired his vision for the Assembly. During the conference, he engaged with global legislative leaders on fostering ethics in governance and advancing parliamentary accountability.
“Parliamentarians play a pivotal role in deepening the values of the Commonwealth Charter within their jurisdictions. They are the guardians of accountability and the loudspeakers of the people’s voices. Their work must transcend party loyalty and be rooted in integrity, enabling them to rise for what is right, just, and fair for the people of our Commonwealth,” the Speaker remarked.
Pathania lauded the UK Parliament for passing the CPA Status Bill, recognising the CPA as an “international, inter-parliamentary organization.” He also endorsed progressive reports and budgetary measures aimed at enhancing the CPA’s agenda. He said from his CPA tour he learnt about tourism innovation learning from Australia and New Zealand.