New Delhi; 10 March : Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, who is leading an Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Manama, Bahrain, visited Shrinathji Temple in the centre of the city. He prayed for global peace and prosperity at the temple. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Birla was happy to recall that the plan to renovate the temple, which was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to Bahrain in 2019, was a historic step towards preserving the civilizational relationship between India and Bahrain. He expressed happiness to know that Shrinathji Temple has a significant imprint of Rajasthani art and culture.
Shri Birla played Holi with local people. Several local people from Bahrain joined the Holi programme with great enthusiasm.
Lok Sabha Speaker also called on the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Mr. Duarte Pacheco.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Birla said that India and IPU share common global perspective. Both India and the IPU want to build a world where everyone’s views are heard, democratic principles and multilateralism are valued and prioritized, and fair representation is given to all.
Referring to India’s G20 chairmanship, Shri Birla said that India’s G20 chairmanship is based on the ideas of hope, harmony, peace and stability. The main theme of India’s G20 presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “One Earth-One Family-One Future”. The motive behind this theme is the interconnectedness between human life on Earth and the wider universe.
Shri Birla expressed happiness that the Parliament of India will host the 9th P20 Summit in 2023. He informed the President of IPU that IPU’s proposal for association with the Parliament of India for the joint hosting of the P20 Summit by IPU has been received. In this context, Shri Birla noted that India would like to take advantage of the cooperation of IPU to make the P20 Summit to be held in India a grand success.
Speaking on the participation of the Parliament of India in the IPU, Shri Birla emphasized that ever since he assumed office as Speaker, Lok Sabha, he has always attached importance to promoting the active participation of the Parliament of India and Members of Parliament in the sittings of the IPU. After the election of Member of Parliament Smt. Aparajita Sarangi in the Executive Committee of IPU, she is actively participating in its meetings. Other Members of Parliament are also actively participating in the discussions of IPU’s various Standing Committees, Working Groups, Forums and its other bodies, Shri Birla observed.
