CHAPTER - X
EXCHANGE OF GOVERNMENT SPONSERED DELEGATION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
10.1
In the continuously and rapidly changing international scenario, the need
to project and propagate our national policies, programmes and problems in the
proper perspective among various countries as well as to understand their
viewpoints was being felt for a long time.
The parliamentarians of a country play a significant role in determining
the policy of the country and strengthening of relations with other countries.
More particularly, it is indeed useful and necessary for a democratic and
developing country like India, to select some members of Parliament and
distinguished personalities and utilize their services in projecting our
policies, programmes, problems and achievements in different fields with their
counterparts and other opinion makers in other countries and secure their
confidence in favour of India. Undoubtedly,
to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the exchange of government sponsored
delegation of members of Parliament proved to be effective.
Therefore, it was decided that three to four delegations of members of
Parliament, under the leadership of the Minister of Parliamentary
Affairs/Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs be sent abroad and also to
receive three to four such delegations from other countries through the Ministry
of External Affairs.
Visit of Government Sponsored Delegation of MPs to Foreign Countries
10.2
Under the programme of exchange of Government sponsored delegations of
Members of Parliament, visits of Indian Goodwill Delegation of MPs to Chile,
Peru and Argentina and Nigeria are on anvil.
Receiving similar delegation from Spain is in the process.
10.3
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs arranged the visit of a 17 member
goodwill delegation of members of Parliament under the leadership of the
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Communications and Information Technology to
Egypt and South Africa during 10-21 January, 2003.
The delegation consisted of the following:
1. Shri Pramod Mahajan, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Communications and Information Technology
2. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas
3. Shri O. Rajagopal, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation
Lok Sabha
4. Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP
5. Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, INC
6. Shri Rupchand Pal, CPI(M)
7. Shri K. Yerrannaidu, TDP
8. Kunwar Akhilesh Singh, Samajwadi Party
9. Shri Chandrakant Khaire, Shiv Sena
10. Shri Raashid Alvi, BSP
11. Shri Raghunath Jha, Janata Dal (Samata)
12. Shri P.H. Pandian, AIADMK
13. Shri Prasanna Acharya, BJD
14. Shri S.S. Palanimanickam, DMK
Rajya Sabha
15. Shri Suresh Pachouri, INC
16. Shri Nilotpal Basu, CPI(M)
17. Dr. Alladi P. Rajkumar, TDP
Secretariat
18. Shri L.M. Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
19. Shri D.R. Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
20. Shri Harish Sharma, Additional Private Secretary to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Communications and Information Technology
10.4 The members of the delegation were nominated by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs after consultation with the leaders/chief whips of major political parties in both the Houses of Parliament.
10.5 The delegation visited Cairo (Arab Republic of Egypt) during January 10-14, 2003 and held discussions with H.E. Dr. Ahmed Fathy Sorour, Speaker, People's Assembly, Dr. Mustafa Kamal Helmi, Chairman, Shura Council of Egypt and also Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Nazif, Minister for Telecommunications and Information. The Minster of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pramod Mahajan recalled long tradition of close friendly relations between these countries; the most ancient civilisation of the world and co-founders of non-aligned movement and shared experiences, values and principles and also priorities of economic and social developments. The Egypt side appreciated the friendship, support and cooperation of India and desired further strengthening of the bi-lateral relations.
10.6 The delegation visited Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban cities of the Republic of South Africa during January 14 to 19, 2003. At Pretoria, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs met Dr (Ms) Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Minister of Communication and Dr. Essop G. Pahad, Minister in the Presidency and held discussions on the subject matter of mutual interest of both the countries. At Cape Town, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs met South African MPs delegation led by Dr Pallo Jordan, Chairman, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs. There had been a number of fields on which discussion was held out of which some of the most important topic was the proposal of forming an India-South African Parliamentary Forum, Development of economic, trade and cultural relationship. There had also been some exchange of information on the question of amenities and allowances of MPs; constitution of a parliamentary mediation committee in case of impasse; constitutional court; and settlement of electoral disputes. At Durban, the Minister and the Indian Delegation had a very useful and informative interaction on Gandhiji for which the Mayor thanked and expressed gratitude.
10.7 Another 22 member Indian Goodwill Delegation of Parliamentarians, led by Hon'ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and Health and Family Welfare was sent to Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania during June 5 to 13, 2003.
The delegation consisted of the following:
1.
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Health &
Family Welfare
2. Smt. Bhavnaben D.
Chikhalia, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism & Culture
3.
Shri Dileep Sanghani
Bharatiya Janata Party
4.
Shri Manikrao Hodalya Gavit
Indian National Congress
5.
Shri Suresh Kurup
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
6.
Shri K. Yerrannaidu
Telugu Desam Party
7.
Shri Chandrakant Khaire
Shiv Sena
8.
Shri Ashok Kumar Singh Chandel
Bahujan Samaj Party
9.
Shri Raghunath Jha
Samata Party
10.
Shri Trilochan Kanungo
Biju Janata Dal
11.
Dr.(Smt.) V. Saroja
All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam
12.
Shri Ashok Mohol
Nationalist Congress Party
13.
Dr. Sushil Kumar Indora
Indian National Lok Dal
14.
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Indian National Congress
15.
Shri S.S. Ahluwalia
Bharatiya Janata Party
16.
Shri S. Ramamuni Reddy
Telugu Desam Party
17.
Shri A.Vijayaraghavan
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
18.
Shri Uday Pratap Singh
Samajwadi Party
19.
Shri P.G. Narayanan
All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam
20.
Shri S.Viduthalai Virumbi
Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam
21.
Shri Prem Chand Gupta
Rashtriya Janata Dal
22.
Shri Ekanath K. Thakur
Shiv Sena
23. Shri Anshu Prakash, IAS,
Private Secretary to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Health & Family
Welfare
24. Shri Dhani Ram, Deputy
Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Secretary to the Delegation
25.
Shri Bhoj Raj, Under Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
26. Shri Jai Krishna Singh,
Addl. PS to Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism &
Culture
10.8 The delegation visited Sofia (Bulgaria) at the invitation of Deputy Chairperson of Bulgarian National Assembly, Mrs. Kameliya Kassabova. On 5.6.2003, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Health & Family Welfare and Smt. Bhavnaben D. Chikhalia, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism & Culture met Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Prof. Ognyan Gerdjikov and Vice President Angel Marine. Prof. Gerdjikov reiterated Bulgaria's support for India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council and urged for customs preferences for export of Bulgarian wines to India. On 6.6.2003 the delegation met Mrs. Kameliya Kassabova, Deputy Chairperson of National Assembly of Bulgaria and Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees of Culture, Economic Policy, Labour & Social Policy and Health. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, held separate bilateral meetings with (1) Mrs. Lidiya Shouleva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour of Social Policy; (2) Mr. Bojidar Finkov, Health Minister and exchanged views on social policies and health care etc. Smt. Bhavnaben D. Chikhalia, MOS separately met Mr. Bojidar Abrashev, Minister of Culture and expressed India's readiness to exchange cultural troops and artists and to impart yoga training to Bulgarians.
10.9 The delegation visited Budapest (Hungary) during June 8 to 11, 2003. During their stay in Budapest, the delegation called on Hungarian Prime Minister, Mr. Peter Medgyessy and Foreign Ministry's Political State Secretary, Mr. Andras Barsony and held useful discussion with the Hungarian Members of Parliament. Mr. Medgyessy stressed for further cooperation in economic, commercial as well as political sectors.
10.10
In the final leg of the visit, the delegation visited Bucharest (Romania)
during June 11-13, 2003. During the
visit, the delegation called on Mr. Acsinte Gasper, Minister of Parliamentary
Relations; Mr. Mircea Geoana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ghiorghi
Prisacaru, Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Senate; Mr. Radu
Podgoreanu, Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of Chamber of Deputies and
Mr. Doru Ioan Taracila, Chairman and Interim of the Senate and Leader of the
Romania-India Friendship Group in Romanian Parliament.
Mutual experiences in parliamentary proceedings, similarity of conditions
in both the countries in the context of globalisation and transition of economy
from a centralised system to market oriented system were discussed.
Receiving of
Government Sponsored Delegation of MPs from Foreign Countries
10.11
On invitation
from this Ministry, a 19 member Chinese Delegation, led by H.E. Mr. He Guoqiang,
Member of Politburo, Central Committee of Communist Party of China, visited
India during February 18-21, 2004. As
suggested by the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. He and other four delegates
were treated as state guests by this Ministry and the Chinese Embassy made
arrangements for the remaining members of the delegation on a self finance
basis. Transportation arrangements,
however, were provided to the whole delegation.
10.12. The
delegates were:
1.
H.E. Mr. Guoqiang, Politburo Member, Member of the Secretariat and
Minister of the Organisation
Department, CPC Central Committee and Leader of the Delegation
2.
H.E. Mr. Liu Hongcai, Vice Minister of the International Department, CPC
Central Committee.
3.
H.E. Mr. Sun Xiaoqun, Vice Minister of the Organisation Department, CPC
Central Committee.
4.
Mr. Zhao Jiaqi, Member of the Standing Committee & Head of the
Organisation Department, CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.
5.
Mr. Wu Shumin, DG of Bureau for South and Southeast Asian Affairs of the
International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
10.13
The delegation arrived at Delhi at 2055 Hours on 18.02.04 by AI 305 from
Bangkok. The Secretary and other
senior officers of this Ministry received and welcomed the delegation with
floral greetings at the airport. The
delegates were lodged at the Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi.
10.14
On February 19, 2004 the delegates visited the Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat
to pay homage to the Father of Nation. The
Gandhi Samadhi Samiti presented the delegates books and mementoes of Mahatma
Gandhi. They also visited various places of tourist interest in the capital.
10.15
During the delegation's stay in Delhi, they called on the Hon'ble
Vice-President of India (Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat), Hon'ble Deputy Prime
Minister (Shri L.K. Advani), Hon'ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and
Health & Family Welfare (Smt. Sushma Swaraj), General Secretary & Member
Politburo, CPI(M) (Shri Harkrishan Singh Surjeet) and President, Bharatiya
Janata Party (Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu) and exchanged views of mutual interests.
10.16
On 20.02.2004, the Delegation received a first hand experience on
information technology at the Software Technology Park of India at Noida and
thereafter proceeded to Agra by road. They
stayed at Hotel Amar Vilas, Agra.
On 21.02.2004, they visited the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and returned to
Delhi in the evening.
10.17
The delegation left Delhi on 21.02.2004 at 2335 hours by AI 480 for
Singapore. The Secretary and other
senior officers of this Ministry saw them off at the airport.
Nomination of
Members of Parliament on the government Delegations Visiting Abroad
10.18
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates/approves the names of
members of Parliament for the delegations being sent abroad by various
ministries. During the year
2003-04, the following Members of Parliament were recommended/nominated in the
delegation noted against each:
1. Dr. Laxmi Narayan
Pandey, MP(LS) Official delegation to Australia for Adoption
of
2.
Shri Srichand Kriplani, MP(LS)
advanced farming practices of opium cultivation and processing.
3.
Dr. L.M. Singvi, MP (RS)
To participate in the 166th Session of Executive Board of
UNESCO at Paris.
4.
Prof. V.K. Malhotra, MP(LS)
To attend the Bidding Function of Commonwealth
Games at London.
5.
Prof. V.K. Malhotra, MP(LS)
Official delegation to Lahore to attend the
6.
Shri Suresh Kalmadi, MP (RS)
SASF Executive Committee Meeting.
7.
Dr. L.M. Singvi, MP (RS)
To attend the 32nd Session of General
8.
Shri Shankar Prasad Jaiswal, MP (LS)
Conference of UNESCO at Paris.
9.
Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MP (LS)
To attend the General Assembly Meeting of Commonwealth Games at Jamaica.
10.
Dr, L.M. Singhvi, MP(RS)
To attend the 169th Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO
at Paris.
Meeting with
Parliamentary Delegation
10.19
During the period from 1.1.2003 to 31.12.2003, following parliamentary
delegations from abroad called on the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs/Minister
of State for Parliamentary Affairs and exchanged views on functions of
Parliament and other matters of mutual interest:
1. February
17, 2003 A twenty member Greek Parliamentary Delegation led
by H.E. Mr. Apostolos Koklamanis, President, Hellenic Parliament.
2.
July 23, 2003 A nine
member Lao PDR Parliamentary Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Samane Vignaketh ,
President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR.
3.
November 17, 2003 A nine member Czech Parliamentary Delegation led by Senator
Prof. Josef Jarab, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and
Security of Czech Parliament.
4.
December 3, 2003 A fourteen member Ukraine Parliamentary Delegation led by
H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Rada of Ukraine.
5.
December 11, 2003 A ten member delegation of women parliamentarians from Lao PDR
led by H.E. Ms. Dr. Thongphanh Chanthalanonh, Chair of the Socio-Cultural
Committee, President of the Women's Caucus, steering the Developing Capacity
Project for Women member of the National Assembly.
Visit of Members of Parliament to Foreign Countries
10.20
During 2003-04, eight members of Parliament (seven from Rajya Sabha and
one member from Lok Sabha) informed this Ministry about their private/study
visits to foreign countries. Requisite
assistance, on demand, was extended to them through the Ministry of External
Affairs and our missions abroad.
Permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976
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