New Delhi, 26 Nov (UNI) At an event marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of India’s Constitution, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday said Delhi should “set the benchmark for excellence globally,” arguing that the national capital must aspire to be the best in the world rather than model itself on other cities.
He was speaking at the Delhi Legislative Assembly during the launch of a coffee-table book documenting the 100 years since Vithalbhai Patel became the first Indian elected Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.
The book was formally released in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among other senior leaders and officials. A short film prepared by the union Government to mark Constitution Day was also screened. The LG administered the pledge.
Radhakrishnan underlined the historical significance of the Assembly building, once home to the Imperial Legislative Council, where early debates on rights and citizenship took shape. He said the new publication attempts to preserve that legacy while linking it to contemporary legislative practice.
Addressing the gathering during the Constitution Day celebrations, the Vice President also urged lawmakers to rely on dialogue and deliberation, and called on citizens across professions to strengthen democracy by upholding constitutional duties.
L-G Saxena said the coffee-table book was conceived at the start of the current Assembly’s term and welcomed its focus on the evolution of India’s legislative institutions. He said Constitution Day offered an opportunity to reaffirm commitments to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Chief Minister Gupta described the Constitution as the “thread of unity” binding India’s diverse identities, and said the book would make citizens proud of the country’s democratic journey.
Speaker Vijender Gupta said celebrating the anniversary in the historic building held “profound emotional significance.” He highlighted two recent initiatives, the Assembly’s shift to 100% solar power and its adoption of the paperless NeVA platform, as steps toward a more transparent and sustainable legislature.
