US legislators learn lessons of ‘tolerance’ from Assembly

A day after the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly witnessed is first ever incident of assault on a legislator, American legislators said they were taking back lessons in ‘tolerance for terrorism’ from the Maharashtra Assembly.

A day after the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly witnessed is first ever incident of assault on a legislator, American legislators said they were taking back lessons in ‘tolerance for terrorism’ from the Maharashtra Assembly.

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Seven young legislators from the United States of America visited the Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai on Tuesday.

They interacted with young Members of the Legislative Assembly for two hours.

“It was a lovely experience to see the country and see how the legislature functions. And mainly to interact with young dynamic people who have progressive ideas,” said Jamilah Nasheed, a Muslim democrat from St Louis.

Brian J Calle, a republican legislator from California said it had been a useful exchange.

“It is interesting to see how a figure like [US President Barack] Obama who is young and dynamic has an influence not only on Americans but everywhere else too,” Calle said.

There were discussions about policies on land acquisition and fair price of commodities.

“But what surprised them the most was our law against pre-natal sex determination,” said Nagpur Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Devendra Phadanvis.

Congress legislator from Vidarbha Yashomati Thakur said the visitors wanted to know about farmers’ suicides and the government’s steps to stop them.