Sushma Swaraj meets Indian diaspora in Rome

Rome, Sep 4: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is leading a 12-member delegation that is here to attend the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa, today met Indian diaspora and talked about various welfare efforts of the government for community members abroad.

Swaraj met the Indian diaspora at a reception hosted by India's Ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa. The External Affairs Minister mentioned welfare efforts for diaspora, assisting Indians in distress and the evacuations the government has conducted, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

"I have come here with a delegation from different parts of India, with those of different faiths to pay respects to life of Mother Teresa," Swaraj said at the reception. "For the Indian principle is based on the saying: ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanthi -- the truth is one, the wise call it as many," she said.

She thanked Indian diaspora for coming, not just from Rome but from Naples, Florence, Milan, Swarup said.

Apart from the central government delegation, two state government-level delegations from Delhi and West Bengal led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee respectively were also in Rome to attend the ceremony that will take place tomorrow.

Swaraj's delegation comprises of Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha MPs Prof K V Thomas, Jose K Mani, Anto Anthony and Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis D'Souza.

Others include Judge of Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, eminent lawyer Harish Salve, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Theodore Mascarenhas and K J Alphons. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sujata Mehta is also part of the delegation.

In March, Pope Francis had announced that Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognised two miracles attributed to her after her death in 1997.

PTI