Zee Media Bureau/ Neha Attre
New Delhi: Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi welcomed the decision by the leaders of the SAARC nation to be present for his swearing-in ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. Modi took to social networking website Twitter and said that it is great to have leaders from SAARC and Mauritius to be present for the ceremony. He further tweeted that their presence will make the occassion more memorable.
Great having leaders from SAARC nations & Mauritius join us during the ceremony. Their presence will make the occasion more memorable.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2014
After the landslide victory in the recent Lok sabha polls, the new government has invited heads of governments of the SAARC members countries to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi. SAARC leaders who will attend the ceremony include Sri Lankan President President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also be attending the ceremony. Bangladesh will be represented by Speaker Shirin Chaudhury as Premier Sheikh Hasina is travelling to Japan. Meanwhile, US called the invitation to the SAARC leaders as a “positive step”. Modi will be administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee on May 26 at 6 pm.