Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took a jibe at the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi and said he will watch the India-Pakistan match instead of attending the ceremony.
“I think that’s a good tradition of inviting the neighbouring countries. But this time there’s one less. He has not invited Pakistan. So again, that also sends a signal…” He further said, “I have not been invited to the swearing-in, so I’ll be watching the (India vs Pakistan) match.” Tharoor told ANI .
India and Pakistan are set to play a World Cup T-20 match in the United States on June 9 at around 8 PM IST.
As Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time, several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
The fourth time MP from , Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Tharoor further said, “The event marks a good tradition of inviting the leaders of the neighbouring countries.”
Tharoor also noted the significance of inviting the Maldives to the swearing-in, despite recent controversies. He expressed confidence in the meeting between the Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Prime Minister Modi after the ceremony.
For the oath-taking ceremony, India has invited its neighbouring countries, except Pakistan.
On the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi, Congress leader KC Venugopal quoted by ANI said , “So far we have not received any information from the government. We have not received any invitation…foreign leaders have been invited. Being the principal opposition party and the INDIA bloc leadership, we have not been informed. I do not know what the mood of the government is.”