Uzbekistan: Swaraj pays floral tributes at Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj paid floral tributes at the bust of India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at his memorial in the Uzbek capital. Swaraj, who arrived in Tashkent yesterday on her first visit to Uzbekistan, visited the Shastri memorial this morning. At the memorial, Swaraj has also met with Yakov Shapiro who sculpted the bronze bust of Shastri. Here's more.
Sushma Swaraj paying floral tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri
EAM @SushmaSwaraj paying floral tribute to freedom fighter and 2nd Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri at his memorial in Tashkent. pic.twitter.com/JslWPwScIr
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 5, 2018
Former PM Shastri died in Tashkent in 1966
Lal Bahadur Shastri had died in Tashkent in January 1966 after signing the Tashkent Declaration that formally ended a war between India and Pakistan. So, a memorial was built there in the former Indian Prime Minister's memory. Earlier, Swaraj met with Speaker of Uzbekistan's Legislative Assembly Nurdinjon Ismoilov and discussed the role of Parliament in fostering a closer people-to-people relationship.
Swaraj met with Oliy Majlis Legislative Assembly speaker
"EAM Sushma Swaraj met the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan Nurdinjon Ismoilov and representatives of political fractions in their Parliament. Discussed the role of Parliament in fostering closer people-to-people relationship," MEA spokesperson Kumar said.
Minister also inaugurated mango festival organized by UP govt
Swaraj also addressed the Indian community in Tashkent and inaugurated a mango festival organized by the Government of Uttar Pradesh with the participation of mango exporters in Tashkent. "The exporters will visit fruit markets and meet fruit traders," Kumar tweeted. The External Affairs Minister also interacted with Uzbek Indologists, Hindi teachers, and students apart from ITEC and ICCR alumni in the country's capital.
Discussed bilateral relations with Uzbek Prime Minister
Swaraj called on Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and held discussions on bilateral relations yesterday. India and Uzbekistan are strategic partners with strong historical and cultural linkages. Swaraj reached Uzbekistan on the final leg of her three-nation tour after visiting Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
