Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region graced the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, PM Modi met the visiting leaders at Rashtrapati Bhavan where President Droupadi Murmu had hosted a banquet for the leaders. The foreign leaders were seated in the front row at the ceremony held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At the banquet, Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu was seen sitting next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of the leaders of neighbouring countries attending the swearing-in-ceremony of the Prime Minister of India. The leaders who attended the banquet include President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka;… pic.twitter.com/vo9jP8SdWp
June 9, 2024Leaders of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan following the swearing-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/mJ103dJ0xk
June 9, 2024Along with President Muizzu, leaders who attended the banquet include the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and (his spouse) Kobita Jugnauth, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobga.
Maldives President Muizzu's 1st Visit India
It is Muizzu's first visit to India after he became the island nation's president on November 17 last year. Ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain after Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office. Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. The military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month.
The invitation by New Delhi to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony assumed significance as it came amid frosty ties between India and the Maldives.
Narendra Modi's Oath Ceremony
Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for a third term, heading a 72-member Union Council of Ministers. Along with him, senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar were sworn in as cabinet ministers.
(with PTI inputs)
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