Somnath Chatterjee lauds Bahrain's reforms process

Dubai, Sept 25: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee lauded Bahrain's efforts for leading the region's democratic reforms fulfilling the aspirations of its people under King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

"By ensuring people's participation through Parliament and the Shura Council, Bahrain's leaders have also given their people a life of dignity," he said in Manama yesterday.

Mr Chatterjee was at the Bahrain International Airport for one hour yesterday on his way to Athens leading a high-level Indian parliamentary delegation.

He was received at the VVIP Lounge by Bahrain's Parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, MPs and other Parliament officials.

The speaker and the Indian MPs would be coming back to Bahrain again on Thursday on a two-day visit while returning home from Athens.

He said the visits of Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa later this year and the first state visit to India by King Hamad early next year would add a new dimension to the bilateral ties.

UNI