BJP leaders to attend Colombo meet

CHENNAI: Even before the dust could settle down over Indian representation at the strategic conclave of Sri Lanka, two senior BJP leaders would be participating in a global conference of Asian political parties in Colombo.

The saffron party’s National Secretary P Muralidhar Rao and its Overseas Affairs Global Convenor Vijay Jolly are attending the eighth General Assembly meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) being held from September 18 to 21. Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.

Besides representation from the Indian Defence establishment, participation of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the strategic conclave had stirred up a hornet’s nest recently.

Delegates from more than 40 nations and representatives of 360 political parties of the Asian continent are taking part in the event. The theme of this conference is: ‘Building  an  Asian  Community’. Two separate sessions on ‘Young  Politicians  Role  in  Asian Building’ and ‘Women’s Role in Asian Building’ are also part of the ICAPP agenda. ICAPP was launched in Manila in September 2000. (New Indian Express)