NEW YORK – In a spirited celebration blending diplomacy and tradition, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted a Diwali event in New York to honor a visiting 12-member Indian Parliamentary delegation. The gathering, led by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, brought together UN ambassadors, senior officials, and friends of India for an evening that highlighted both cultural pride and international engagement.
The celebration also marked the culmination of India’s campaign for election to the UN Human Rights Council. In a message shared on X, Ambassador Harish said, “Our desire in serving as a member of the UN HRC is rooted in the belief that its membership gives us a unique opportunity, but more importantly, a responsibility to work towards the advancement of human rights. We believe that with dialogue, cooperation, and constructive collaboration among member states, we can contribute to promoting and protecting human rights.”
Welcoming the delegation, Harish added that the Permanent Mission “would gain a lot from their perspectives, experiences, and leadership.” The visiting lawmakers included Poonamben Maadam, P.P. Chaudhary, Brijesh Chowta, Vivek Tankha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Medha Kulkarni, Rajeev Rai, N.K. Premachandran, Bharat Mathukumilli, Nishikant Dubey, Vamsi Gaddam, and Ujjwal Nikam.
During their visit, the delegation met with France’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, to discuss India–France cooperation and other issues of mutual interest. The group also held discussions with Richard Gowan, UN Director of the International Crisis Group, focusing on global challenges and the UN’s evolving role in maintaining peace and stability.
Earlier in the week, member Vivek Tankha addressed the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, emphasizing the rule of law and India’s commitment to global peace and security. Brijesh Chowta also spoke before the Second Committee on issues affecting countries in special situations, reaffirming India’s support for Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries through South-South Cooperation programs, including the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative and the India–UN Development Partnership Fund.
The event served as both a celebration of Diwali’s message of light and renewal and a reaffirmation of India’s growing leadership role within the UN system, underscoring its commitment to global cooperation, human rights, and sustainable development. (Source: IANS)
