New Delhi, India— India has been reined in by the Hindu right wing extremist group Rashtrya Swaimsevak Sangh’s (RSS) political wing Bhartya Janta Party (BJP) under the leadership of Narendrabhai Damodardas Modi, who led the Party to an astounding victory in the Lok Sabha poll. Modi was sworn in on Monday evening as India’s 15th Prime Minister at a grand ceremony attended by around 3,000 guests. Since BJP gains a clear majority in Lok Sabha on its own, the historical development was termed by some experts as the entry of India into a Hindutavi totalitarian era.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, palace of the president, with the setting sun serving as a backdrop to the momentous event attended by leaders from eight countries.
In addition, around 45 cabinet and state ministers also took oaths. Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) Harsimrat Badal took the oath as cabinet minister. The Modi Government succeeds the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whose United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government was in power for 10 years.
The swearing in ceremony was attended by outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, as well as leaders of various other parties, and Chief Ministers of a number of states.
Leaders of south Asian countries including Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, also attended the ceremony. As well as Sharif, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, were also present at the ceremony. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent Speaker Shirin Chaudhury as her representative as the former was on a visit to Japan.
This is the first time that the heads of state and government, as well as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations were invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian Prime Minister. Besides the SAARC nations, Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Media reports indicate that, Modi will be holding “short duration bilateral meetings” with all the SAARC leaders on Tuesday.
Along with Sharif, a delegation comprising his advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry also attended the occasion.
