The two-day annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region Zone-2 began today at Tapovan, Dharamshala. The event was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and attended by a host of dignitaries including Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Chief Whips, and Deputy Chief Whips from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and other special invitees from Karnataka, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.
CM Sukhu, in his address, emphasized the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and legislative processes. He highlighted that Himachal Pradesh set an example by upholding the Anti-Defection Law, disqualifying MLAs involved in destabilizing a democratically elected government. He noted that the state has even passed a Bill to stop pensions for disqualified legislators, which awaits gubernatorial assent.
Key Highlights:
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Anti-Defection Law is vital to protect democracy, said CM Sukhu, urging for its stricter implementation across India.
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CM demanded a separate central policy for hill states, citing challenges like tough terrain, slow development, and GST impacts.
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Himachal Pradesh was hailed as a leader in digital democracy, being the first paperless Assembly since 2014.
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The CM supported the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ with annual by-elections only once a year.
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Under ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’, ministers visited 1,000+ Panchayats to resolve grassroots issues swiftly.
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Himachal ranked 5th in the NAS Survey 2025, a leap from 21st in 2021, reflecting educational reforms.
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Robotic surgeries were introduced to modernize healthcare; strong laws passed against organized crime and drug trafficking.
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Welfare steps include:
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Old Pension Scheme restored for 1.36 lakh employees.
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₹1,500 monthly aid to ~3 lakh women under Indira Gandhi Pyari Bahna Samman Nidhi.
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MSP introduced for wheat, maize, and turmeric.
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Shipki-La Pass opened for border tourism to boost local economy in tribal Kinnaur.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, host of the conference, highlighted Dharamshala’s tradition of hosting the Winter Session and expressed pride in organizing the CPA conference for the first time in the region.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan called for unified efforts against defection threats and praised the conference’s success. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Dr. Harivansh Narayan Singh, AYUSH Minister Yadvinder Goma, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar and several senior parliamentary delegates were present.
