Ansari inaugurates briefing programme on Indian origin lawmakers

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) India's place in the world would be determined not only by its phenomenal success on the economic front, but also by its efforts in dealing with ''other realities'' of dehumanising poverty, perpetual struggles for survival and painful contrasts, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said today.

''In the final analysis, our success in addressing these challenges would determine our place in the world,'' Mr Ansari said while inaugurating the First Briefing Programme of Indian Origin Parliamentarians, organised by the Public Diplomacy Division of the External Affairs Ministry here.

He said these ''other realities'' need to be understood in their totality since they cover three-fourth of India's population and put in perspective the macro-economic growth aggregates.

''They account for the correctives that we are compelled to apply in order to ensure inclusive growth; they also provide the rationale for the positions we take in multilateral negotiations on trade, environment and a range of related questions.'' A group of 16 Indian origin parliamentarians from the UK, the European Parliament and the US are attending the week-long programme, which has been organised with a view to providing comprehensive presentations on different aspects on issues of concern and interest to India.

Among those attending the event are British MPs Lord Bhiku Parekh (Labour), Keith Vaz (Labour), Lord Adam patel (Labour), Baroness Sandip Verma (Conservative), Lord Mohd Sheikh (Conservative), Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel (Crossbench), Baroness Usha Prashar (Crossbench), Lord Kamlesh Patel (Crossbench), Lord Karan Bilimoria (Crossbench), Lord Navnit Dholakia (Libdem) and Lord Diljit Rana (Crossbench).

European Parliament is being representd by Ms Neena Gill, Mr David Geerts and Mr Claude Moraes while Swati Dandekar is an MP from the US.

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