New Delhi: It is learnt informally, that Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay have indicated their willingness to attend the ceremony.
There is no word from Pakistan officially yet, but a top aide of Mr Sharif said in Islamabad that the Pakistan PM would respond “positively” to the invitation. “We are yet to officially get the invitation. It is in the media. When we receive the invitation formally, we will surely respond positively,” he said.
It is learnt that Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed may not be able to make it as she will be on an official visit to Japan at that time. However, Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury to represent Bangladesh at Narendra Modi's swearing in ceremony on May 26.
Explaining the move of inviting Saarc leaders, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that a peaceful change in the world’s largest democracy was an “occasion to showcase to the whole world the strength of democracy”.
Mr Jaitley said, “It is the Modi government’s intention to maintain good ties with its neighbours, and this is the first indication of that intention.” He said it was also an indication to India’s neighbours that “we care for them and want to maintain good relations with them.”
The Congress said it was the incoming government’s prerogative to invite Saarc leaders, including Mr Sharif, to the oath-taking ceremony.
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the move, with Ms Mufti saying it was a “good omen” and that “it’s a pleasant surprise and quite unbelievable”.
The separatist groups too said it was a “good sign”.
