India on Saturday announced that leaders of its neighbours and seven countries in the Indian Ocean region, including Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister on June 9. Hasina and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afeef have already reached Delhi. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, apart from Hasina and Afeef, other leaders attending the swearing-in ceremony include Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. It said, “The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in consonance with the highest priority accorded by India to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision.”
Guests will attend dinner with President Draupadi Murmu
India is cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean region under the broad policy framework of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region). The Ministry of External Affairs said, “The swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers is scheduled for June 9, 2024 after the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Leaders from India’s neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region have been invited as chief guests on the occasion.” It said that apart from attending the swearing-in ceremony, all the leaders will also attend a banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday at 7:15 pm. Shortly after Hasina arrived in Delhi on Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “This visit of one of our most valued partners will further strengthen the close and deep ties of friendship between India-Bangladesh.” Jaiswal also welcomed Afif’s visit to India.
Solution will also be found for Maldives
He said, “This visit will give further impetus to India-Seychelles bilateral relations.” The invitation extended by New Delhi to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony is also significant in view of the recent tense relations between India and Maldives. Relations between India and Maldives have remained tense since November last year after Muizzu, who is considered a supporter of China, took over as President. Mohammed Muizzu had instructed the Indian Army personnel deployed there to return to their country just hours after taking oath, after which civilians were deployed in place of Indian military personnel for security earlier this month. Leaders of regional group SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries attended Modi’s first swearing-in ceremony when he took over as Prime Minister after the BJP’s landslide election victory. When Modi became Prime Minister for the second consecutive time in 2019, the leaders of BIMSTEC countries attended his swearing-in ceremony.
(input language)
Latest India News