Indian-origin politician takes oath on Gita in Australia

An Indian-origin MP from the Australian state of New South Wales on Tuesday become the first politician to be sworn in to Australian parliament on the Hindu religious text, the Bhagavad-gita.

Daniel Mookhey, 32, was chosen by the Australian Labour Party to fill the casual vacancy created by Steve Whan's unsuccessful tilt at a Lower House seat in the March election, ABC reported.

Mookhey was born in Blacktown to parents who emigrated from the north Indian state of Punjab.

He said he was nervous ahead of the historic swearing-in ceremony.

"It's an incredible honour and I'm humbled to be the first Australian politician to take his oath of allegiance on the Gita," he said.

"My story is only possible because Australia is so open and so welcoming to the contributions of people like my parents, and I'm thinking a lot about them today as I take my oath.

"I'm really proud to be sort of using it today as a mark of respect to the people that have helped me get to where I've gotten today, and I'm really very pleased and humbled by the opportunity," he added.