Peace must for region’s development: Mahajan

SOUTH ASIA SPEAKERS’ SUMMIT

LOK SABHA Speaker Sumitra Mahajanonsaturdayhighlighted common history, contiguous geography and shared destiny of South Asian counties while emphasisingtheimportanceofpeace to the region’s development. “There should be peace, peace, peace...then only there would be development,’’ Mahajan said in herinauguraladdresstothesouth Asia Speakers’ Summit in Indore.

The Speaker said that parliamentarians could act as the bridge between people and their governments. “As elected representatives, it is our dutytoensurethatourrespective governmentstakeconcretemeasuresforrealisingthesesustainable development goals,” she said. “Indiaanditsparliamentarecommitted to working with the international community to craft an ambitious, comprehensive and equitable development agenda with poverty eradication at its core.’’

A PTI report quoted Interparliamentary Union (IPU) President Saber Hossain Chowdhury saying on the sidelines of the summit that differences between governments should not stop dialogue among lawmakers. “When governments stop talking, parliamentarians should continue and at least at the parliamentary level this is what IPU stands for.’’

Chowdhury said that Pakistan may not be participating, but they hope that it will participate in upcoming events. Afghanistan Assembly speaker Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi added: “As a neighbouring nation, we would have felt better if they were here.’’

Sumitra Mahajan