Modi now plays up new EU link, blog says got invite to attend Brussels session

European Union (EU) lawmakers have invited Chief Minister Narendra Modi to "attend the European Parliament" that will convene in November this year in Brussels, says his blog on Saturday.

It also says Modi "interacted" with European lawmakers via Skype from Gandhinagar when they came to attend a meet on corporate culture and spirituality at Art of Living International centre in Bangalore by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Political figures who interacted with Modi include Joe Leinen (German politician from the SPD and member of the European Parliament who heads the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the Parliament), Nirj Deva (Member of the European Parliament and politician of Britain's Conservative Party), Anne Marie Lizin (Honorary President of Belgian Senate) and Vladislav Yurchik (leader of Communist party of Russia and Deputy of Duma), and Valery Sargienko (Member of Siberia's Legislative Assembly and leader of Communist Party).

According to the blog, the EU lawmakers invited Modi to attend the European Parliament that will be held in Brussels in November this year. Representatives of over 27 nations will participate. He also received an invite to attend the European Business Meet in Brussels, the blog says.

During the interaction, Modi talked about various initiatives of Gujarat towards environmental protection and advances in solar and other forms of renewable energy. He spoke of how how Astrakhan province of Russia is a "sister state to Gujarat" and had sent a delegation to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013. He also talked about how Gujarat Government has joined hands with Sri Lanka to develop a "Rama trail" on the lines of the existing one in Sri Lanka, that is a hit with tourists. He also said the government proposed a "Buddha trail from Sri Lanka to Gujarat".

Modi also told them that Gujarat is the first in Asia and among the four states in the world to have a separate department for climate change. Modi said on Twitter: "Had a delightful interaction with lawmakers from the European Union & Russia. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji also joined us."

ALSO READ

Janampatri to genomepatri, the leap forward in predicting future

Despite fast-track courts, rape conviction rate still low

Lanka strikes back, wants to partner IOC in oil tanks pact

Party support on track, Bansal, Ashwani to stay