The Indian Parliamentary Delegation actively participated in the deliberations on the second day of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), being held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 12 to 19 September 2026.
Shri Harivansh, Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, attended the main Conference session on “Promoting Inter-parliamentary Dialogue for Inclusive Fair Trade in Diverse Economies, Addressing Inequality and Underdevelopment in the Commonwealth and Beyond.” He also held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Ms. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), South Africa, to exchange views on matters of mutual parliamentary interest and further strengthen parliamentary relations between India and South Africa.
Smt. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Speaker, Uttarakhand, chaired the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) session on “Intergenerational Equality: The Future of Parliamentary Democracy.” Shri Vijender Gupta, Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly, chaired the joint workshop of CWP, CPA Small Branches and Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) on “Delivering Inclusivity Measures in Capacity-Strained Parliaments.” Dr. D. Purandeswari, MP, Lok Sabha, participated as a panellist in the CWP session on “Legislating for All: Gender Mainstreaming in Procedure, Practices and Policy.”
During the discussions on inclusive fair trade and economic development, Shri Kulthar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker, Punjab, highlighted India’s experience in digital payments and improving access to credit and institutional support for farmers and producers. Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti, MP, Lok Sabha, emphasised India’s commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system and proposed a two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
Shri C. Sadanandan Master, MP, Rajya Sabha, and Shri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Speaker, Kerala, contributed to the discussions on “Accessible Parliaments: Inclusion for People with Disabilities.” Ms. Namita Mundada, MLA, Maharashtra, highlighted the establishment of creche facilities in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as an example of promoting inclusive and family-friendly parliamentary workplaces.
The Indian delegation’s participation reaffirmed India’s commitment to constructive parliamentary engagement, inclusive governance and the exchange of legislative experiences among Commonwealth countries.