In accordance with India’s enduring commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the ‘SAGAR’ vision, leaders from neighboring nations and the Indian Ocean region have been invited as distinguished guests to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.
These dignitaries include heads of state from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that they have all accepted the invitations.
The ceremony, scheduled for June 9, 2024, follows the General Elections 2024. The MEA highlighted the event’s significance, stating it underscores India’s priority to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision.
In addition to attending the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also be guests at a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later that evening.
Due to PM Modi’s upcoming attendance at the G7 summit in Italy, the guest list has been kept concise. Over 8,000 guests, ranging from laborers to professionals like lawyers, doctors, artists, and cultural performers, have been accommodated.
Speculations about the ceremony’s location were dispelled due to ongoing weather conditions, resulting in its confinement to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
PM Modi’s outreach to neighboring leaders reflects India’s ongoing efforts to engage with regional countries, a tradition established in 2014 and 2019 with invitations to SAARC and BIMSTEC nations, respectively.
Formally endorsed by President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi’s leadership of the NDA was confirmed following consultations with key allies like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United).
With a formidable presence in the Lok Sabha, the NDA, comprising 293 MPs, including 240 from the BJP, continues its governance mandate following the 2019 elections, where the BJP secured 303 seats.
