MIAMI, Fl: An Indian delegation of parliamentarians stopping by in Miami en route to India was hosted by GOPIO with a welcome dinner. The delegation was headed by the Indian Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda and consisted members from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and a few high officials of the Government of India.
The Indian Consul General Ajit Kumar and his staff were also present at the dinner. The delegation visited the newly installed statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the town of Davie, where Mayor Judy Paul welcomed the guests.
Deputy Speaker Munda praised the Mayor and the Indian Community for installing the statue and for bringing the Apostle of Peace to this part of the World. He said that Gandhi’s message of peace is evergreen and is relevant for all times. The peaceful atmosphere at the site was obvious.
Welcoming the delegation at the dinner, GOPIO Senior Vice President Dr Piyush C. Agrawal expressed his great pleasure of hosting parliamentary delegations from India for the last fifteen years. The Indian community of South Florida is a vibrant community that values these interactions and raise issues of common concerns. For example, during this meeting, a strong voice was heard about the rampant corruption in almost all walks of life in India. Parliament being highest law making body can initiate and make laws to curb the corrupt practices. The delegation was beseeched to do something about corruption that shall make future of India brighter.
Questions were raised about the plight of Hindus thrown out of Bangladesh and Pakistan and about forced conversion of Hindus in these countries. Question of plight of Kashmiri Hindus was also raised.
The delegation in a very polite manner tried their best to respond to these issues. It truly was a family affair where opinions differed in certain cases but the spirit of affection took over in this great get-together.
Deputy Speaker Munda expressed his pleasure to hear the views of the community on various aspects of politics and sociology in India and that it has kept such a close contact with the happenings in India. Members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, namely Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya, Sudarshan Bhagat, Sheikh Saidul Haque, Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho and Mrs Putul Kumari took turns to address the issues raised by the community.
Finally, Consul General Kumar, in his seasoned diplomatic manner, offered the bridging remarks to entice the appetite for a sumptuous dinner.
India Post News Service
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