Indian Politics: Modi’s invitations for swearing in ceremony!

-DR. ABDU LRUFF COLACHAL

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The regime change process is in progress in New Delhi with saffron flags dominating the city and media, signaling a something new in Indian politics, though none is sure of the content or format of the impending change.

In suggesting his big role in regional polices, Narendra Modi had invited the leaders of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the swearing-in ceremony to be held on 26th May in New Delhi. It is the first time in India's history that leaders from neighboring countries have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of a prime minister.

The prime minister elect and BJP leader Narendra Modi has in fact has invited several leaders of India, besides chief ministers, and rulers in SAARC nations for the swearing in ceremony.

Modi will be sworn in at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday evening.

Not every leader is impressed, however,  by Modi’s triclomacy.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa have decided to miss the prime minister-elect Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony in opposition to the invitation sent to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for the event

West Bengal chief mistier Mamata Banerjee, whom the Congress party sponsored as the Prime minster when the exit polls conducted  upon the close of all polls in the country predicated a BJP upper hand in the parliament poll  had quickly responded negatively to Modi's invitation.

Mamata Banerjee opposes BJP gimmicks for votes. Mamata had instructed MPs of her party, Trinamool Congress to not attend the swearing-in ceremony. She is planning to skip the event herself. Modi and Mamata had several bitter exchanges during the election campaign ahead of the polling for 2014 general elections.

Similarly no AIADMK MP would attend the grand ceremony party.

Lankan Tamil issue is a hot issue for Tamilnadu people and politicians and they oppose the Lankan brutality over the Tamil population. In addition to the AIADMK, BJP's ally in Tamil Nadu, the MDMK too opposes the participation of the Sri Lankan PM at the event. Cutting across their political differences, every politician in the former Madras state condemn military terror unleashed on Tamils in the island nation.  

Both AIADMK and MDMK contend that the presence of Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 26 during the swearing-in will hurt the sentiments of the Tamil people.



Modi’s invitation to all SAARC countries has offended not only Tamils, but even the Congress party which now seems to play the Hindutva role in opposing invitation for Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This Congress and BJP remain the secret Hindutva allies and they keep swap their roles in politics.  

Ignoring the serious objections from the powerful military and  intelligence wing ISI, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has confirmed that he would attend the oath taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi to be held Monday. Officials said that Sharif took the decision after a series of consultations with his close aides.  Sharif will be accompanied by Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz.

Reports suggest that the Pakistan Foreign Office had urged Sharif to attend the ceremony, saying that the bitterness towards Pakistan shown during the election campaign in India would subside after the formation of a new government in New Delhi. Khurshid Ahmed Shah, leader of opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly, had also urged Sharif to accept the invitation in the larger interest of the people of the two countries.

Apart from Sharif, the dignitaries who will attend include Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam is also attending the ceremony.

Modi would also hold brief bilateral talks with each leader the following day.

Geographically, Pakistan lies opposite of Gujarat state on Arabian Sea and Gujarat and other states on the Western coast line used the anti-Pakistani rhetoric to create a powerful sense of insecurity and fear among people particularly of  Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.  

Today, all these states under saffron control politically and administratively, even judiciary in these states also seems to feel insecure. Modi’s phenomenon rise to reach the high office in New Delhi is partly thanks to Pakistan and BJP’s anti- policy of anti-Islamism and anti-Muslimism.

Will the BJP, thriving on anti-Muslim ploys, change?