Pawar, Chidambaram, Swaraj, Ayiar receive best Parliamentarian award

President Pratibha Patil today gave away the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sushma Swaraj.

New Delhi, Sep 13 : President Pratibha Patil today gave away the "Outstanding Parliamentarian Award" to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sushma Swaraj.

Congratulating these parliamentarians on the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "I am naturally delighted that three of the four awardees today are members of my Cabinet. All of them are not just good parliamentarians, but also have proved to be good administrators."

"I can vouch for the fact that they have not only contributed handsomely to the proceedings in Parliament, but also to the functioning of our Government," Dr Singh added.

The Prime Minister urged all parliamentarians to reflect on the role that they can individually and collectively play in strengthening the great institution of democracy of the country.

Talking about Pawar, Dr Singh said, "Pawar has been a valued colleague, an experienced and mature guide and a steadfast ally for many-many years."

Commenting on the Finance Minister, he said that Chidambaram is an extremely gifted, talented and hard working member of his Cabinet who has contributed enormously to the implementation of the government's policies.

"Aiyar has been an energetic spokesman of the third tier of democracy in this first tier reminding us that decentralization of power and development is essential for the success of our democracy," the Prime Minister said.

Dr Singh said that Swaraj is not just a vocal member of the Opposition, but has been an effective Minister in the previous Government.

Vice President Hamid Ansari and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, were also present on the occasion.

ANI