India to form parliamentary friendship groups

India will soon set up parliamentary friendship groups with different countries to step up articulation of its views and stand on the global stage while projecting a united political face, a development that comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

Taking cue from the recent visits of multi-party delegations to several countries, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said he will hold consultations with leaders of all parties in the upcoming session for setting up parliamentary friendship groups.

"The work has already started. Several countries have requested us to establish such groups, which they already have. Now it will be in a formal manner with representation from several parties," Birla said on the sidelines of the conference of the estimates committees of Parliament, states and legislative bodies.