Lok Sabha Speaker unveils Mahatma's bust in German Parliament

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) The Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the Bundestag (Parliament) building of the Federal Republic of Germany in berlin today.

According to a message received from the Lok Sabha Secretariat here today, it said, " We the Parliamentarians and the people of India stand honoured by your gesture of placing the Mahatma on a high pedestal in your Parliament in fact it is an honour for all the peace loving people across the World", said Mr Chatterjee to his German counterpart Dr Norbert Lammert in an emotion filled voice in a brief ceremony organised on this occasion.

Dr Lammert recalling the glowing tributes paid to Mahatma Gandhi by one of the most famous Germans, Albert Einstein, who said " Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth".

Earlier, in the day Dr Lammert, the President of Bundestag, extended a very warm welcome to the visiting Indian Parliamentary delegation to the Bundestag building.

The Indian delegation also held discussions with their German counterparts on wide ranging issues.

Later, the two leaders jointly addressed the media where they reiterated their resolve for further cementing the time-tested bonds of friendship between the two countries. In response to a question from the media regarding India's stand on Iran's nuclear programme, Mr Chatterjee said " We respect iran's right for civilian nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the guidelines of IAEA".

UNI/BKS LS KP1706