Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM to inaugurate business-like Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

EAM TO REPRESENT INDIA AT ASEAN'S TSUNAMI SUMMIT

In the light of the tsunami tragedy and the Government's pre-occupation with relief and rehabilitation, it has been decided to scale down the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2005 (PBD 2005) meet in Mumbai next week. The PBD 2005 will be restricted to business sessions, cutting out all celebratory events, including entertainment and official banquets.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has agreed to allow a scaled down PBD 2005 to be held, after initially considering its cancellation, because many of the several hundred delegates to the conference shave already arrived in India and have registered for participation. However, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs, the nodal Ministry organizing the event, to cancel all celebratory events including entertainment, lunch and dinner programmes. The PBD 2005 will only have business-oriented sessions. It will also discuss ways in which overseas Indians can contribute to relief and rehabilitation efforts in a sustained manner. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the meet on 7th January, 2005 in Mumbai.

Because of his commitment to inaugurate the PBD 2005, the Prime Minister has requested the External Affairs Minister, Shri Natwar Singh to represent him at the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami, scheduled for 6th January, 2005 at Jakarta. After participating in the meeting, Shri Natwar Singh will also fly to Colombo to discuss relief and rehabilitation issues with the Government of Sri Lanka.