141 Indian origin MPs, mayors to join 1st PIO meet

New Delhi: Over 140 MPs and mayors of Indian-origin from 23 nations will converge in New Delhi as part of a first-ever “Persons Of Indian Origin (PIO) Parliamentarian Conference” which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, seeking to boost ties with these countries by leveraging the diaspora links.

The conference will be held on January 9 at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra at Chanakyapuri.

Only sitting MPs and mayors from the Indian origin diaspora worldwide in 23 countries have been invited for the conference on January 9, but invitations have not been extended to ministers, heads of government/state or Parliament Speakers of Indian origin.

From the Saarc region, only MPs from Sri Lanka have been invited. The largest contingent is from Caribbean nation Guyana with 23 delegates, including 20 MPs and three mayors. Trinidad and Tobago, another Caribbean nation, will send the second-largest delegation at 20, with 16 MPs and four Mayors. Britain will send the third largest delegation of 16, with 15 MPs and one mayor. Overall, 141 delegates will attend, including 124 MPs and 17 mayors.

Other countries sending delegations include Canada, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, and the US. However, the US delegation will comprise only two mayors. MEA officials said this was because the US Senate is currently in session.