On the 19th of April 2017, Wednesday, a community meet-and-greet dinner was hosted for Indian dignitaries by the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland Inc. (FICQ) and High Commission of India to Australia, (Canberra), to honour the arrival of Indian government delegates in Brisbane.
FICQ and Indian Community members with the visiting Indian Delegates
Among the esteemed guests was Member of Parliament, Professor K. V. Thomas from Kerala, India. He currently represents the Ernakulam Constituency of the 16th Lok Sabha, and is the present chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC). He was accompanied by Mr. Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha from the Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradhesh and the current President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Member- Public Accounts Committee. In addition, the event welcomed Mr. A.K. Singh, Additional Secretary (Lok Sabha Secretariat), and Mr. Sonal Bajaj, Counsellor of the Indian High Commission for Australia. The event, led by FICQ president, Mr O Palanichamy Thevar was positively received, having Indian Community leaders and representatives from Queensland in attendance, including Mrs. Archana Singh, Honorary Consul of India for Queensland.
President of Federation of Indian Communities in Queensland (FICQ) welcoming Professor K. V. Thomas
Mr Thevar noted that the Indian diaspora plays a key role in the community and business life of Queensland. He further proudly stated that there was representation from Indians from all parts of India – from North to South and from East to West and who had gathered together. In Australia, Indians are from all different cultural and language groups. The Queensland Community was indeed very fortunate to have both the major Indian parties represented, the Congress and BJP.
AIBC Qld President Nik Senapati, FICQ President Palani Thevar, Counsellor Sonal Bajaj, FICQ Secretary Nikhil Reddy, Treasurer Anajaneya Reddy
Mr Bajaj welcomed and highlighted the recently concluded Confluence Festival of India program. He noted many similarities between India and Australia and mentioned about the recent Australian government delegation visit to India. Mr Bajaj as well informed and urged all PIO card holder to convert to OCI, the deadline for which is 30 June 2017.
Ashutosh Raina, from Kashmiri Pandits Australia, with Professor K. V. Thomas and his wife
Prof Thomas explained the details of their current visit and the details of PAC conference in Brisbane. He informed that PAC, called as Mother of Parliament committee was founded in 1921. It has been a tradition from 1976 that the Chairmanship of PAC of India is given to the opposition. “If there is difference of opinion we cannot submit the report to take to Parliament. All recommendation of this committee are to be accepted by the government at large”, he said. Prof Thomas recalled Prime Minister Modi’s visit and also mentioned the recent Australian PM’s visit to Australia. He was also interested in the seafood industry and for people from Cochin to come for fishing near Australian waters. India looks at Australia as a good partner, he said.
Surendra Prasad OAM, with Hemant and Kalpana Naik
Mr Anurag expressed surprise and appreciated, for the short notice given for such an event. He stated that Prof Thakur is a seasoned politician and MPs like himself could learn from him. He said he loves Indian democracy where “you fight on issues and fight on ideologies. When you go out of country you represent India, not as parties”. He appreciated that people living away from India are still showing patriotism by watching and supporting India. Indians living away are contributing to make India a better place. “Policy makers and every Indian together need to make India a better place – not only a place for big investments but a better place to live in.”
Finally Mr Nikhil Reddy thanked everyone.
President of FICQ, Palanichamy Thevar, addressing the guests
MP Anurag Thakur with Hemant Naik, Kalpana Naik and Reena Augustine
Indian Community members with Indian Delegates