Ludhiana, May 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
To mark the historic and decisive victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, the Indian Overseas Congress (Kerala Chapter, Australia) hosted a grand function, ‘Victory Celebrations 2026’, at the Australian Indian Community Center (AICC), Rowville, Melbourne.
Former Union Information & Broadcasting Minister and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while senior Congress leader and former Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, was among the prominent figures present on the occasion.
The function commenced with the office bearers of IOC Australia extending a warm and heartfelt welcome to Manish Tewari. Describing his visit as deeply significant, the IOC leaders emphasized that it served as a powerful morale booster for the entire unit of IOC Australia.
Addressing the gathering, Tewari congratulated the Indian Overseas Congress Australia and in particular it’s Kerala Chapter, for organizing a splendid afternoon to commemorate the decisive victory of the United Democratic Front in the recently concluded Kerala elections.
“I had had a very long and a very intimate association with the state of Kerala. And of course, needless to say, that Kerala celebrates the diversity and the pluralism of India. Kerala presents that perfect example of the diversity of India,” he asserted.
In his speech, Tewari said, “Coming from the state of Punjab, whose essence can be summed up in three words, which is Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat, it is extremely gratifying to see the same pluralism, the same diversity, the same respect and values for human life in the state of Kerala, which is at the southernmost tip of the country.
And in many senses of the word, there are lots of convergences between Kerala and Punjab. Not only in terms of its politics, which is very secular, very pluralistic but also given the fact that Kerala and Punjab are two states or two peoples who have the largest diaspora around the world.”
Tewari further said, “Back home, many of us come from very different political ideologies, diverse backgrounds and had been perhaps associated with different political parties back home. But we must remember that when we are abroad, we are Indians first and anything else later.
And that is something which, which should always guide us in our work, that we are not when we are overseas only seen as representatives of the Indian National Congress or some other political party. Our first identity is as an Indian and so therefore, whatever we do, good, bad or ugly, reflects not only on us as a community but also India as a country.”
Tewari emphasised that it is important that as the Indian community grows and expands in Australia. “Through you, we will be able to convey our messages, our concerns, the shared strategic convergence that we have with Australia on a very broad range of issues, not only confined to strategic affairs or the stake that we have in keeping the global commons open but more importantly even from a civilizational perspective, it is you who would be or are the ambassadors of India in this great country,” he said.
Among those present on this occasion were President, Indian Overseas Congress (Australia) Manoj Sheoran; National Vice-President, IOC Australia Sukhbir Sandhu; National president Punjab IOC, Harpreet Singh Dod; president Victoria IOC, Kanwal Pratap Singh; general secretary IOC Punjab; Taranjit Gill and legal advisor IOC Australia Gurpal Singh Barrister. IOC dignitaries from Kerala Chapter who graced the occasion included IOC Kerala Chapter, National president Jigesh; general secretary IOC Australia Soban Thomas, National secretary IOC Australia Biju Sakaria and secretary IOC Australia Afzal. Besides, Sunil Dutt, Varun Sharma, Sunny Dutt and Raja Dhillon were also present at the function.
–
FOLLOW NOW
