StarBuzzOnline.com : MJ Akbar speaks to the Torontonians on elimination of poverty as the foremost priority of the present Indian dispensation

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

MJ Akbar speaks to the Torontonians on elimination of poverty as the foremost priority of the present Indian dispensation

Asma Mahmood, Consul General of India Shri Akhilesh Mishra, MJ Akbar,
Reeti Mishra, Bhupinder Virdi

With Binoy Thomas Editor in Chief
Weekly Voice

It was indeed a treat to listen to MJ Akbar on a special evening hosted by the Indian Consulate, Toronto. Akbar who was visiting Halifax on a conference stopped over at Toronto . Akbar now is national spokesperson for the ruling party BJP of India since May 2014. M.J. Akbar has been a leading and eminent Indian journalist and author.

The main point that was stressed in MJ Akbar's speech in Toronto was the elimination of poverty which is the foremost priority of the present Indian dispensation. The world is also focused on the fact that the economic development becomes meaningless if the wealth starts getting concentrated in the hands of a few. It is also the priority of The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by United Nations. Needless to say it is the most pressing issue of Indian subcontinent.

MJ Akbar, Consul General Of India
Shri Akhilesh Mishra,
Ghazal singir Azalia Ray, Meena Chopra

"Prosperity does not have any meaning without removing 'poverty' and 'prosperity' can not happen without 'peace and security'. To achieve this a reasonable proper distribution of 'economic equity' is necessary", he said. MJ further added, "economic equity happens when the poorest of the poor must feel that they are the part of the rising narrative." He also touched upon the issues of 'gender equality' and 'education', these being directly related to 'economic development'. The importance of the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister Modi to Nepal for the SAARC Conference at Kathmandu, was also highlighted as it was after 17 years that the head of the country of India will be visiting this neighbouring state.

Rakesh Tewari Producer Host
Apana Radio, Publsher Hindi Times

Further he threw light on the structure of multicultural democratic India where the freedom of faith is practiced openly and fearlessly. This could have been surprising to some Canadians of Pakistani descent who were present in a vast majority at the event. Muslims in Pakistan are wrongly led to believe and perceive that the Muslims in India are suppressed. This was clearly and categorically conveyed by MJ towards the end saying " Thank God I am in India which is truly secular".

His talk was so engrossing that when it was over, everyone was left literally wanting more but that is typical of MJ. We wish that the event was followed by a question and answer session as well.

The evening was shared by many eminent personalities and media of Toronto both of Indian and Pakistani descent. The event was hosted by of Shri Akhilesh Mishra, Consul General of India in Toronto and his wife Reeti Mishra with a dinner to follow. Pakistani Consul General Mr. Golo, Senator Salma Ataullahjan and MPP Dr Shafiq Qaadri were also present for the evening.

-Meena Chopra
for StarBuzzOnline.com

Some pics from the event