Leaders of Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan were accompanied by Ministers…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that in his third term, India will continue to work for the peace, progress and prosperity of the region in close partnership with the countries, even as it pursues its goal of having a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
Prime Minister Modi’s assurance came during his meeting with the visiting leaders following the swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday.
Leaders from India’s neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) participated in the ceremony as honoured guests.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay attended the ceremony as Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers were administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu.
Leaders of Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan were accompanied by Ministers.
The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Modi for taking oath as the Prime Minister of India for a historic third consecutive term.
Thanking them for gracing the occasion, the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR Vision’.
“PM Modi called for deeper people-to-people ties and connectivity in the region. He further added that India would continue to amplify the voice of the Global South in the international arena,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The leaders also attended a banquet hosted by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President while welcoming them and conveying her wishes to Prime Minister Modi in the service of the nation, said that India’s democratic exercise was not only a moment of pride for its people but an inspiration to millions around the world.
“The participation of leaders from India’s neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region on the momentous occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers underlines India’s deep-rooted bonds of friendship and cooperation with the region,” the MEA added.
Hasina invites PM Modi to visit Bangladesh
Underscoring the strong ties between countries, Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Muhammad Hasan Mahmud said that Sheikh Hasina has expressed her willingness to work with the new government in the future to strengthen the ties, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath as India’s Prime Minister for a third consecutive term.
Sheikh Hasina was invited to the oath-taking ceremony that took place on Sunday (June 9) at Rashtrapati Bhavan here in the national capital.
“…PM Sheikh Hasina attended the oath-taking ceremony (of PM Modi and the council of ministers) and after that, she had a one-to-one meeting with PM Narendra Modi, where she again congratulated him and the NDA for winning the elections. She expresses her willingness to work with the new government in future to strengthen the ties,” Hasan Mahmud told ANI.
He further highlighted that the relationship between the two nations has reached to a “new height” under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Modi.
“She has also invited PM Modi to visit Bangladesh,” he noted.
“As a neighbour, we have many opportunities; we have to strengthen our people-to-people contact, in terms of connectivity, we have to work more because it gives benefits to both Bangladesh and India…” the Foreign Minister added.
PM Hasina arrived in India on Saturday afternoon and was the first foreign leader to arrive here for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. She was one of the distinguished guests invited to New Delhi to attend the much-awaited ceremony.
Secretary (CPV & OIA), Muktesh Pardeshi received Prime Minister Hasina at the airport.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5.
BJP-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in the 543-member lower house of the Indian parliament. BJP, which won resounding majorities of 282 seats in 2014 and 303 seats in 2019, fell short of the majority mark (272) on its own this time.
PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third consecutive term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
India and Bangladesh enjoy warm ties, which have further expanded under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi was one of the first leaders to congratulate Hasina after she won the general elections in January this year.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate PM Modi. He invited PM Hasina for the oath-ceremony, which was accepted by the Bangladesh PM.
PM Modi’s invitation to neighbouring leaders reflects India’s ongoing efforts to engage with countries in the region. In 2014, he convened leaders from SAARC nations, and in 2019, he invited countries from the BIMSTEC group. (ANI)