New Delhi, 07 October (H.S.):

The Indian Parliamentary Delegation participated in meetings and deliberations of various committees on Tuesday during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania. Led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, the delegation took part in the proceedings on the second day of the Assembly.

The 153rd IPU Assembly is being held in Arusha from October 5 to 9, 2026, bringing together parliamentarians from around the world for discussions on governance, peace, human rights and other global issues.

According to information released by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday, Harivansh participated in the proceedings of the IPU Assembly and exercised his right of reply to remarks made by Pakistan regarding Kashmir. He asserted that Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and said Pakistan had no right to comment on India’s internal affairs.

Lok Sabha member Sanjay Jaiswal participated in a session of the IPU’s health committee and also joined a regional field visit organised by the committee.

Lok Sabha member Anurag Singh Thakur attended a meeting of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights and participated in discussions on the draft resolution titled ‘Inclusive social development for all: Parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of people living with disabilities’.

Lok Sabha member Kamaljeet Sehrawat attended a meeting of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security and participated in discussions on the theme ‘Building a peaceful future: Parliamentary diplomacy, mediation and dialogue for sustainable peace’.

Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra participated in a panel discussion of the same committee on ‘The role of parliaments in ensuring peace in the era of military artificial intelligence’. He also took part in deliberations of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights and contributed to the drafting of the resolution.

Lok Sabha member N.K. Premachandran participated in workshops on strengthening parliamentary responses to terrorism and enhancing parliamentary oversight of critical minerals.

The Indian High Commission hosted a cultural programme in honour of the delegation in the evening. Following the event, members of the delegation also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Tanzania.

The 153rd IPU Assembly, hosted in Arusha by the Parliament of Tanzania, is centred on the theme ‘Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all’. The Assembly is also addressing issues ranging from human rights and sustainable development to international security, artificial intelligence and parliamentary diplomacy.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar