| Date: 17/05/2012 Time: 11:56:00 AM |
On the penultimate day of their ongoing
five-day visit to India, the ten-member Kuwaiti journalist delegation visited
the Indian Parliament and met Lok Sabha (Lower House) Speaker Meira Kumar and
Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Chairman Hamid Ansari.
Ansari is also the country's Vice-President. As per the Indian
Constitution, India's Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya
Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament).
Both the Indian leaders laid out a hearty welcome to the visiting
journalists and expressed hope that their visit would prove as a yet another
milestone in solidifying the 'close and strong ties between the two countries.
Ansari, who had paid an official visit to Kuwait in 2009, told the
journalist-delegates that both the nations enjoy ancient ties since the modern
age and pre-oil times.
"Imprints of Kuwait can still be seen along the Mumbai coast, where Kuwaiti
traders used to once come to trade in spices and other commodities," he said.
He added that the Indian community working in Kuwait always praises their
employers.
"People-to-people relationship is very important as it proves in defining
the foreign policy of any two countries," he stated.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar hailed the age-old friendly ties between the
two sides.
She made a special emphasis about both India and Kuwait having democratic
set up and a written Constitution.
"Democracy has flourished in India for 60 years, and will continue to do so
in future. It's a multi-religion and multi-ethnic country, which is a house to
the second largest Muslim population in the world," she said.
Replying to a question on the role of women in Indian politics, she
informed the Kuwaiti journalists that there were "one million elected women
representatives" in India at different levels, from village to corporations
and local bodies.
"Besides, some of the top positions in Indian politics, like President, Lok
Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition and UPA Chairperson, are also occupied by
women," she added.
To another question on the role of women politicians in improving
India-Pakistan relations, she informed the delegates that the Speaker of
Pakistani Parliament was a "close friend" of her.
"Recently I visited Pakistan on an invitation from my Pakistani counterpart
and I was overwhelmed by the warmth and love they showered on me. I have also
invited Pakistani Parliament to visit India in near future," she added.
Before meeting the two Indian leaders, the Kuwaiti journalists also visited
the Parliament Museum, where they had a glimpse of Indian art, culture, War of
Independence, and India's form of governance. |