CPA and Assam

It is indeed a matter of great pride for Assam in general and the Assam Legislative Assembly in particular that a crucial two-day mid-year executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is being hosted by the Assam Legislative Assembly from Saturday. Representatives from as many as 53 Commonwealth countries and nine regions of the CPA are participating in this event. This is the first time that the CPA Executive Committee is meeting physically after three years. Meetings in the past two years were conducted in virtual mode due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite that, some representatives of some countries are attending through virtual media. What is most significant is that such an event of the CPA is being hosted for the first time by the Legislative Assembly of any Indian state for the first time. It is worth recalling that founded in 1911 the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is one of the oldest established organizations in the Commonwealth. Originally founded as Empire Parliamentary Association, it was rechristened as Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 1948, within one year of India attaining independence. The CPA is a membership association that brings together Members, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, who are united by a community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. Made up of over 180 legislatures (or branches), the CPA is divided up between nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth, and offers a wide range of opportunities for Parliamentarians (and Legislators) and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and to share good practice across the globe. What is also worth mentioning is that the CPA has been the voice of parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth for over nine decades. Since the beginning of the new millennium, however, it has also been speaking out for the right of Parliaments and Parliamentarians to play a more active and proactive role in the development of their respective countries. As has been stated, the CPA's motto or vision is "to promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth." The CPA's activities also focus on the Commonwealth's commitment to its fundamental political values, which in turn include just and honest government, alleviation of poverty, upholding fundamental human rights, ensuring international peace and order, contributing to global economic development, emphasizing rule of law, working towards equal rights and representation for all citizens of all genders, separation of powers among the three branches of government, and the right to participate in free and democratic political processes. The CPA has under its umbrella 185 Parliaments and Legislatures and over 17,000 Members, who, according to the CPA are not just satisfied with simply approving and scrutinizing government development plans, but also want to play an increasingly active role in formulating those plans. It is in this context that the CPA meeting in Guwahati is considered crucial because it is a wonderful and unique opportunity for the legislators for learning a lot of new things and acquire a whole range of new ideas and concepts. It is also significant that the two-day mid-year executive committee meeting is being followed immediately by the 8th CPA India Region conference. While between 25 to 30 foreign delegates are taking part in the deliberations, more than 200 delegates, including Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Leaders of the Opposition of all Legislative Assemblies of the country, and a large number of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are participating in the India Region conference. This in turn means there is a huge presence of elected representatives from all over the country in the Assam capital. This also means that this large number of lawmakers will carry back with the various kinds of messages and impressions of Assam and Guwahati, including that about the state's elected representatives, government and the people.