Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday gave away the prestigious Best Parliamentarian Awards to Mohan Singh and Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi and Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi at an impressive function in the Central Hall of Parliament.
The Awards were given for the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 for their outstanding contributions to 
parliamentary debates and good behaviours. While Mohan Singh and Dr. Joshi received the Awards themselves, Mrs. Deepa Das Munshi received the Award on behalf of her husband Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi , who is ailing.
Addressing the function, the President, the Vice President, Prime Minister and the Lok Sabha Speaker hailed the contributions of these parliamentarians in making the debates rich in content.
President stressed the need of the joint responsibility of the opposition and treasury benches to take the nation forward. This, she said can be achieved through discussion and consultation process. She added that the faith of people in the democracy has increased and it is reflected in the participation of the people in the electoral process.
Patil said parliament must evolve and reform to meet emerging challenges that often require fresh thinking and innovative ideas.
Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said that the award would induce other parliamentarians to strive to improve the discourse and this would lend weight and substance to the edifice of democracy.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that walk outs and disruptions may make head lines in the press. But it is high time to raise the standard of debate and discussions.
While appreciating the work and behaviours of the awarded members, the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar exhorted other members to make the house more meaningful and evocative. also addressed Several members of Union Cabinet and members of parliament also attended the function