It is a great privilege and honour to be here with you today and be part of the celebrations of 125 years of Legislative bodies in Kerala. I am grateful to the Hon'ble Speaker for his kind invitation and for having provided me the opportunity to meet all of you.

I am delighted to receive the Second annual 'Report to the People' of the National Innovation Council.

Swami Vivekananda had said, "All nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. A country and a nation which does not respect women has never become rich."

It is a matter of great pleasure for me to be here in Naya Raipur, the new Capital city of Chhattisgarh on the occasion of the 12th formation Day of the State.

It gives me immense pleasure to be here in Raipur on the occasion of inauguration of the New Integrated Terminal at Raipur Airport.

It is indeed a happy occasion for me to be amongst you today for presenting the National Awards, Shilpguru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards for the years 2009 and 2010 to the Master Crafts persons and Weavers.

I am very happy to inaugurate this National "District Level" seminar on Mediation being organized with the theme of "Role of District Judiciary in Strengthening Mediation at Institutional Level".

Dr M.M. Pallam Raju, H'ble Minister for Human Resource Development

Dr. Karan Singh, Designate Representative of India to UNESCO,

Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Human Resource Development,

Your Excellency, President Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to extend to Your Excellency and the distinguished members of your delegation, a warm welcome on your State Visit to India. I am particularly happy to have this opportunity to renew my personal association with you.

"It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here at the inauguration Ceremony of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) - the flagship event of India Trade Promotion Organisation, that is opening its 32nd edition today.