D Raja (CPI) highlighted the role of galaxy of Communist parliamentarians.
"We have been articulating our concerns based on an ideology," he said adding India needs electoral reforms and state funding of elections. He said Parliament needs to work for more number of days. "We have a common responsibility" to strengthen Parliament. 

Shanta Kumar (BJP) drew the attention of the members towards corruption and pointed out that blackmoney was being used in elections. He stressed that in "this very session, we must pass the Lok Pal Bill" or else people would say that the 60 year celebration was just a "ritual". 

Karan Singh (Cong), four times MP each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, he said the 60-year celebration is a day of rejoice as well as introspection. He said the greatest contribution of Indian Parliament is that it has provided political stability and every citizen is stakeholder.

Senior BJP leader Najma Heptulla requested the Prime Minister for passage of the Women Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha as a "gift" to mark the occasion. The Upper House, of which she was Vice-Chairman for 17 years, has already passed the Bill. Heptulla paid homage to those who laid their lives to protect Parliament when terrorists attacked it in December 2001.

H K Dua (Nom) said the Rajya Sabha has a restraining effect on the on policy making in the country and has been united in facing the national crisis together.
He said consensus should be evolved among parties for tackling issues such as terrorism, naxalism and challenges faced by the country from both internal and external sources. 

(Dua has been the Editor of the Hindustan Times, Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Express, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Publications and Editorial Advisor of The Times of India.)