News Desk: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has expressed hope that the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will adopt a joint declaration through consensus, despite differences among participating countries. The two-day meeting is scheduled to take place at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi on October 26 and 27.
The forum will bring together parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss shared challenges, strengthen cooperation between legislatures and explore ways to make democratic institutions more effective. The possibility of reaching a joint declaration is expected to be one of the key issues during the meeting.
Speaking ahead of the event, Birla said India would engage with participating countries to build agreement on common concerns. He referred to the joint declaration adopted at the BRICS summit in Brazil, expressing hope that a similar outcome could be achieved at the parliamentary forum.
“India's Parliament also holds discussions and engages in dialogue with all countries to build consensus,” Birla said, adding that he hoped all participating countries would agree on a joint declaration.
Terrorism to Be a Key Discussion Point
Birla identified terrorism as one of the major global challenges that deserves particular attention during the forum. He reiterated India's consistent opposition to terrorism and called for discussions on how the international community could address the threat.
He said terrorism must end in every country and expressed hope that BRICS members would hold detailed discussions on the issue.
Climate change and other cross-border challenges are also expected to feature in the deliberations. The forum will provide an opportunity for participating countries to exchange views on issues that require international cooperation.
PM Modi to Meet Visiting Parliamentary Leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the event and meet leaders of visiting delegations, according to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Birla will chair the proceedings, hold bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders and deliver the valedictory address.
The overarching theme of the forum is “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”. Discussions will cover institutional resilience, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable development and the role of parliaments in global governance.
The programme will include plenary sessions, bilateral exchanges and discussions involving chairs of international affairs committees from BRICS member and partner parliaments.
India Seeks Stronger Parliamentary Cooperation
Birla said parliaments have an important role in ensuring that democratic institutions remain transparent, accountable and responsive to citizens. He highlighted India's efforts to strengthen parliamentary capacity and learn from legislative practices followed in other countries.
The aim is to identify effective approaches that can be adapted to India's political and institutional framework.
A meeting of delegation secretaries is scheduled for October 25 to finalise the forum's joint statement. The gathering will also include discussions on parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the sharing of best practices.
India's chairship of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is expected to provide an opportunity to strengthen legislative cooperation and promote people-centric development. Whether participating countries can reach consensus on a joint declaration will be a key outcome to watch.
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