India attaches the “highest importance” to its relations with Bangladesh and believes that a strong, stable and prosperous neighbour is in its best interest, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Sunday as she called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Ms. Mahajan, who was leading the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) here, said India stands committed to strengthening bilateral ties on the basis of friendship, trust and understanding for the mutual benefit of people and collective prosperity of the entire region.
“India is also fully committed to be a partner in the economic development of Bangladesh. Besides, India fully supports Bangladesh’s policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism and stands by its fight against the forces of militancy and terrorism,” she said.
Prime Minister Hasina hoped that Bangladesh’s close and historic links with India would continue to guide bilateral relationship in times to come, according to a statement.
“India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Bangladesh and believes that a strong, stable and prosperous country is in its best interest,” she said.
Earlier today, Lok Sabha Speaker addressed the delegates at the debate on the general theme of the 136th Assembly of IPU “Redressing Inequalities: Delivering on Dignity and Well-being for all”.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Mahajan emphasised that many existing inequalities have global linkages and solutions are possible only through sustained global efforts.
She said that the world community can address inequality “effectively and efficiently”.
Referring to Indian philosophy’s inherent assertion that the individual should grow to benefit the society and encompass the whole universe, Ms. Mahajan said human dignity cannot be ensured merely through constitutional means.
“It has to be embedded in the basic ‘Sanskaras’ — the value system of the society,” she said.
She said that traditional Indian wisdom visualises the grand idea of the oneness of ‘Atman and Paramaatman’ — the soul and the supreme and universal oneness of human beings based on ‘Chetna’ — the collective consciousness.
Underlining that a number of legislations have been enacted from time to time to end discrimination against vulnerable groups of people, she said India has established many institutions for the welfare and protection of the rights of the disadvantaged groups.
Ms. Mahajan said that the recent endorsement by India, of the ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would further help bridge the gaps and supplement in the efforts for equitable development by addressing the key challenges such as poverty, inequality, and violence against women.
Referring to the South Asian Speakers Conference held in Indore recently, she said the Presiding Officers of the South Asian Countries had unequivocally agreed to work in tandem to address the regional issues of inequality among the citizens in different spheres.
