On the sidelines of the 149th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla met the President of the IPU H.E. Ms. Tulia Ackson.
Recalling his previous meeting with H.E. Ms. Ackson in New Delhi, he congratulated her on her leadership of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and wished for the success of ongoing 149th Assembly. Shri Birla also recalled his previous visit to Tanzania in January 2023.
Emphasizing India’s rich democratic heritage, Shri Birla stated that India not only the largest democracy but also the most diverse, with unparalleled geographic, religious, linguistic, cultural, and ethnic variety among its people and regions. He added that the principles of tolerance and pluralism are central to Indian society and guide its parliamentary system.
Shri Birla noted that India’s long-standing membership in the IPU highlights its commitment to democratic governance and strengthening parliamentary institutions. He expressed confidence that over the past decade, India’s relations with the IPU have strengthened, and that they will continue to grow under the H.E. Ms. Ackson’s leadership. Mentioning the efforts being undertaken by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Shri Birla informed that this key training institution of the Parliament of India, has trained parliamentarians from over 115 countries. He proposed developing an international resource center for IPU members using PRIDE’s expertise.
