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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline OCTOBER 15, 2021 | The Indian Eye 30

Mos Muraleedharan interacts with gopio and community

organization representatives on diaspora issues

our Bureau Participants at the interactive session with minister V. muraleedharan
Stamford, CT

. Muraleedharan, who offi-
cially took charge as Min-
Vister of State for External
Affairs and Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs in May
2019, took the opportunity to
travel to Connecticut to “listen”
directly to the Diaspora and ad-
dress their concerns.
“I am here to listen to you and GoPio chairman Dr. thomas abraham speaking at the interactive meeting with minister muraleedharan
want to make sure your sugges-
tions are heard and implement- cerns,” he told the audience. by Dr. Thomas Abraham said, world,’ said Dr. Abraham.
ed,” said India’s Minister of State While assuring the community “After the Ministry of Overseas Drawing the attention of
for External Affairs Shri V. Mu- that he has listened to the con- Indian Affairs was merged with the Minister on some of the is-
raleedharan during a Reception cerns of the Diaspora, he will the External Affairs Ministry, sues of the NRI/PIO commu-
and Interactive session with the address each one of them and Cabinet Minister Dr. S. Jais- nity, Dr. Abraham said, “We
Indian American Diaspora on find an amicable solution. hankar and his associate Min- campaigned for Dual National-
October 12th at the Hampton The event was organized ister Shri Muraleedharan have ity and the govt. came up with
Hotel and Suites in Stamford, by the Global Organization of been dealing with Diaspora af- PIO Card and later on with the
Connecticut. People of Indian Origin Con- fairs. Minister Muraleedharan, OCI card. We asked for voting
“India is fully democratic. Ju- necticut Chapter (GOPIO CT) we are so pleased that you took rights for Indian citizens living
diciary is independent. Media along with the New York Indi- some time off your busy sched- outside India. Although voting
is free. There is no substance an Consulate in cooperation ule at the UN to join us and in- rights are given, there has been
to claims that the media is con- with other Indian community teract with us.” very little participation because
trolled” by the government, de- groups in Connecticut. GO- Dr. Abraham provided a of the requirements of physical
clared Shri V. Muraleedharan, PIO International Chairman brief history of GOPIO Inter- voting in India. The Election
who was visiting the United Dr. Thomas Abraham, chaired national, which was formed at Commission has recommend-
States to address the United Na- the meeting and extended a the First Global Convention of ed Proxy Voting, but not imple-
tions. warm welcome to Minister Mu- People of Indian Origin in 1989 mented yet.”
“I’ve been in charge of the raleedharan. In his welcome in New York, which has now He urged the government
External Affairs Ministry for the address, Dr. Abraham brough grown into a Pan-Indian com- of India to appoint at least two
last 2 years and I was feeling that to the attention on some of the munity organization for NRIs Members of Parliament in the
there is a need for interaction Diaspora issue to the minister and PIOs with over 100 chap- Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, rep-
with the US Indian Diaspora. and also on avenues of cooper- ters spread in 35 countries. “We resenting the 32 million people
And this forum is a place where ation to promote India all over at GOPIO are a partner with of Indian origin living outside
people have an opportunity to the world. Indian missions abroad to pro- India, more than half of them
share their problems and con- In his welcome remarks tect India’s interest around the Continued on next page... >>

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