Meenakashi Lekhi

Former Minister of State for External Affair & Culture (India)

Founder President East-West Dialogue

Mrs. Meenakashi Lekhi is a prominent Indian politician and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture. With a legal career that began in 1990, she has practiced in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court, establishing herself as a formidable advocate for social justice. Mrs. Lekhi played a vital role in drafting significant legislation, including the "Women's Reservation Bill" and the "Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill," the latter of which successfully passed in Parliament. She has championed media rights, successfully advocating for the revocation of bans on media coverage of court proceedings. Her commitment to women's rights is further exemplified by her involvement in landmark cases, such as advocating for the permanent commissioning of women in the Indian armed forces and representing victims in high-profile cases like the Shanti Mukund Hospital rape case. As a two-time Member of Parliament from New Delhi, Mrs. Lekhi has contributed to numerous parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committees on External Affairs and Urban Development, and has chaired important committees, such as the Committee on Public Undertakings and the Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019. With extensive experience spanning grassroots advocacy to the apex court and Parliament, Mrs. Meenakashi Lekhi is a strong proponent of women's leadership and equal opportunities for marginalized communities, consistently striving to create a more inclusive society.