Maldives President Muizzu Sits Next To PM Modi At Dinner Event As Both Countries Look To Strengthen Ties

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.

Along 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.

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.

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)