LONDON: An Early Day Motion welcoming the unveiling of a statue of Indian philosopher Basaveshwara on the banks of Thames was today moved in the British Parliament.
The motion, moved by the longest serving Indian-origin MP Keith Vaz, welcomed the unveiling of the statue by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the UK.
A special tribute was paid to Basaveshwara for propagating democratic ideals and gender equality in the 12th century.
Basaveshwara pioneered the idea of democracy much before the Magna Carta.
Modi in his tribute had said: "Basveshwara stood for civil liberties even before Magna carta was signed and preached the idea of democracy 700 years before Abraham Lincoln."
Also present at the unveiling of the statue was Speaker of the British Parliament John Bercow, Keith Vaz MP for Leicester, MP for Waltham Forest Preeti Patel, MP for North Croydon Steve Reed and Lord Jeffery Archer.
Early Day Motions are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons.