Rome: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is leading a 12-member delegation to the canonization ceremony of Mother Teresa in Rome, has met Indian diaspora and talked about various government welfare efforts for community members abroad.
Swaraj met the Indian diaspora on September 3 at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa.
The External Affairs Minister mentioned about assisting Indians in distress and the evacuations the government has conducted, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Vikas Swarup ✔ @MEAIndia “EAM thanks Indian diaspora for coming, not just from Rome but from Naples, Florence, Milan – speaks of the renewed engagement with diaspora
“I have come here with a delegation from different parts of India, with those of different faiths to pay respects to life of Mother Teresa,” Swaraj said at the reception. “For the Indian principle is based on the saying: ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanthi – the truth is one, the wise call it as many,” she added.
Swaraj’s delegation comprises of Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha members Prof K V Thomas, Jose K Mani, Anto Anthony and Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis D’Souza.
Others include Judge of Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, eminent lawyer Harish Salve, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and K J Alphonse. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sujata Mehta is also part of the delegation.
In March, Pope Francis had announced that Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognized two miracles attributed to her after her death in 1997.