The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) meeting in Paris over the weekend paid tribute to Indian soldiers who laid their lives fighting freedom of Europe on Armistice Day in France which honored all those soldiers who were killed at World War I. Over 4,700 Indian soldiers laid their lives fighting with the British. The convention delegates led by GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham visited Indian soldiers memorial at Neuve Chapelle in Richebourg, France on November 11th on Armistice Day and laid flowers at the memorial. The convention passed a resolution requesting UNESCO to recognize this memorial as a World Heritage site.
The convention was inaugurated at the Intercontinental Hotel by Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar and was addressed by Dr. Satyapal Singh MP and Shri Raj Purohit MLA, Chief Whip of the Maharashtra Assembly. The Chief Guest at the Conference inauguration was Ms. Ericka Bareights, Minister of Overseas Affairs of France. Eight conference sessions followed.
The convention passed a resolution in support of demonetization of the higher end Indian currencies so as to curtail the black money and terrorism funding. However, GOPIO has called upon India govt. to provide same opportunity for NRIs and PIOs as Indian nationals to deposit up to Rs. 2.5 lakhs of Indian currencies in Indian banks in India or outside. The convention ended with a finale banquet dinner cruise on Siene River in Paris.