India can not emulate healthy Swiss practices; Speaker

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Complimenting Switzerland for its great democratic traditions and practices, including decentralisation and provision of referendum, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today regretted that India could not emulate ''such healthy practices because of several demographic constraints''.

He made the observation while welcoming a 7-member Swiss Parliamentary delegation led by Mr Christoffel Brandil, Speaker of the Upper House of the Swiss Parliament.

Referring to recent acts of terrorism in the recent past, Mr Chatterjee called upon all countries to work together to fight this menace.

He also called for greater cooperation between the two Parliaments.

Mr Brandil said despite various differences, India and Switzerland have many commonalities. He said both the countries should make sincere efforts in faciliating enhanced cooperation in areas of mututal interests.

The Swiss delegation also attended a meeting with the standing committee on External Affairs, a Lok Sabha release said.

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