“It is a matter of concern that on the plea of non-functioning or improper functioning of the legislatures, other organs are intruding into our domain, crossing the Lakshman-rekha, thereby creating an imbalance in our Constitutional set-up and distorting the principle of separation of powers, which needs to be resisted,” he said.

Chatterjee was addressing the concluding session of a three-day training programme organised by the state Legislative Assembly secretariat for the members of the Twelfth House.

All praise for the industry, enterprise, and the cooperatives sector of the state, he offered support to Speaker Ashok Bhatt’s proposal for setting up a training institute to groom Parliamentary talent in the state and outside. He also announced that the Parliament library as well as those of the state Assemblies would be soon linked via Internet for knowledge sharing on issues of legislation.

Welcoming Chatterjee, Bhatt thanked him for agreeing to address Gujarat legislators, and expressed hope that his cooperation would see through the setting up of the institute mooted by him.

Presiding over the session, Chief Minister Narendra Modi was all praise for Chatterjee, admitting that he overwhelmed many times by the veteran Parliamentarian during debates. Modi exhorted MLAs to attempt a serious bipartisan conduct inside the House aimed at discussing development of the society they represent.

Earlier in the day, the MLAs listened to former Union Minister, economist, and veteran journalist Arun Shourie on Gujarat’s place in the national growth story, emphasising how the state was playing a crucial role in shaping India’s development.

Though all praise for the state, its government, and its people, Shourie sounded a note of caution. Giving the example of how the state has lost its leadership in textiles and a decade of technological advancement to China owing to complacency, the BJP leader sought a new vision from the state’s leaders. “Gujarat is a leader in the petrochemicals sector. But in 30 years from now, all known sources of petroleum would dry up and with that, the sector would be gone. Gujarat needs to innovate to finds its new area of leadership,” he said, suggesting that innovation and environment could be two such fields.

Following Shourie, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Shaktisinh Gohil spoke on the role of constructive opposition in the functioning of democracy. In an engaging and light hearted session, Gohil briefed the legislators on how the concept of opposition benches grew out of the Westminster model of Parliamentary democracy.