IMAGE: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrives in Delhi, June 9, 2024. Photographs: ANI Photo
Reported & Written By Kumud Sharma, Diary Times, Shimla, June 09 :Top leaders from India’s neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region, including Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers.
Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jagannath and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay also reached New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers.Bangladesh President Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afeef reached New Delhi on Saturday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers.
Let us tell you that among the foreign leaders, the visit of Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu is considered more important, because Mohammed Muizzu is a major reason for the bad relations between India and Maldives.This is Muizzu’s first visit to India after becoming Maldives President on November 17th in the year 2023.
“Maldives President @MMuizzu arrived in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, where he was accorded a warm welcome,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told ‘X’.”India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours,” he said.
On Saturday, Muizzu said he looked forward to working with PM Modi to further strengthen close ties with India, adding that the relationship between the two countries was moving in a “positive direction”.
Relations between India and Maldives had deteriorated after Muizzu became President due to his pro-China leanings.
Within hours of his swearing-in, Muizzu had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his Maldives. Indian military personnel were withdrawn and replaced by civilians earlier this month.
After Tobgay’s arrival, Jaiswal said the visit will “further strengthen the close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan.”
On Wickremesinghe’s visit, Jaiswal, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said India and Sri Lanka are civilisational partners and enjoy strong and enduring bilateral ties.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was the last leader to arrive in New Delhi.
“This visit reflects the unique India-Nepal ties and will provide further impetus to our multifaceted relations,” Jaiswal said on ‘X’.
“The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in line with the highest priority accorded by India to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision,” the foreign ministry said.
India has been cooperating with countries in the Indian Ocean region under the broader policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region.
Apart from attending the swearing-in ceremony, the foreign leaders will also attend a banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu.
PM Modi is likely to hold separate bilateral meetings with foreign leaders.
Leaders of regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries had attended PM Modi’s first swearing-in ceremony when he took over as Prime Minister after the BJP’s massive electoral victory.
Leaders of BIMSTEC countries had attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2019 when he became Prime Minister for the second consecutive term.
The BJP could not secure a majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition NDA secured 293 seats out of 543. The majority mark in the lower house is 272.Bangladesh PM Hasina met senior BJP leader LK Advani at his residence.
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Kumud Sharma is the First Well-Known Female Journalist of the Journalism World of Himachal Pradesh. I am the Founder, Editor in Chief, Managing Director, Promoter of Diary Times. As a Female Journalist, With My Experience of More Than Nine Years, I Tell You Every News of Himachal Pradesh From The Ground Level With Absolutely Accurate and Correct Information, Be it the Politics of Himachal Pradesh or the Ground Reality, My Perspective On Every News Will Give You Assurance. I Assure You That Every News of Mine Will Comply With the Expertise and Fact Checking Policy.
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