Lokmat National Conclave 2025 and Lokmat Parliamentary Awards (6th edition) were organized today at New Maharashtra Sadan, Delhi. Both these events provided an effective platform for meaningful dialogue between politics, judiciary, media and society as well as to honor the public representatives who have made significant contributions to Parliament. In this conclave, important issues like the concept of ‘Developed India’, emerging challenges before democracy and the role of constitutional institutions were discussed.
In the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards ceremony organized after the conclave, MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha who played an effective role in Parliament were honored. This award is being given to public representatives who have contributed in strengthening parliamentary democracy in the last five years. Chairman of the jury of this award and former Union Minister Praful Patel said that this is the most reliable and fair award given to public representatives. The jury included representatives from all parties and the MPs were selected after extensive deliberations.
Who will be present in the program
On this occasion, former CJI BR Gavai, former Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, MPs from all political parties, senior journalists and prominent personalities of public life were present. The award jury included Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy, Bhartrihari Mahtab, Nishikant Dubey, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra, Jaya Bachchan, senior journalist Barkha Dutt and senior editorial representatives of Lokmat Media Group.
Statement of former CJI BR Gavai
Before the stage, CJI BR Gavai said that under the Constitution, Parliament is the most important pillar of democracy. Our Constitution is for political justice and social justice. The judiciary has also upheld the Constitution to a great extent. Sometimes tensions arise in all the three pillars of democracy, but all work for the welfare of the public. Sometimes there is difficulty in taking decision in a case as to how to balance it? But we lean towards justice only. However, it is also true that sometimes what we feel is justice is not felt by other people. If a party wins, it feels the decision is right and the one that loses feels wrong.
Funny style of Union Minister Ramdas Athawale
After CJI, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale in his humorous manner said about CJI that you had become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but I am still the chief of my party. As long as I am there, I will remain the chief of my party. If someone tries to bypass me, I will bypass him. Now I don’t know which party you are going to join, but it is a matter of pride that someone from our community becomes CJI.
Athawale’s political wisdom
After this, Athawale gave an example of political wisdom and said that when Congress was in power, I was with them, now in Maharashtra I am with BJP, Shiv Sena. Only the person I am with gets power, that’s why I get to go to parties. Athawale said what is going to happen in Maharashtra? Whether we will be together in the alliance or not, but here MPs from all parties are getting awards and I am keeping an eye on whether anyone from my party gets the award or not.
List of MPs who received awards:
- Best Debutant Women Parliamentarian Lok Sabha of the Year: Samajwadi Party MP from Kairana Iqra Chaudhary
- Best Women Parliamentarian of the Year Lok Sabha: Sangeeta Kumari Singhdev
- Best Parliamentarian Of the Year Lok Sabha: Jagdambika Pal
- Life Time Achievement Award Of the Year Loksabha: T R Baalu
- Best Debutant Women Parliamentarian Rajya Sabha: Sudha Murthy
- Best Women Parliamentarian of the Year Rajya Sabha: Dola Sen
- Best Parliamentarian Of the Year Lok Sabha: Sanjay Singh
- Lifetime Achievement Award Of the Year Rajya Sabha: Digvijay Singh
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