Modi invites Sharif, Saarc heads
Continued from Page 1 heads of government be invited.
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.
In Srinagar, chief minister Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic
‘ It is the Modi government’s intention to maintain good ties with its neighbours, and this is the first indication of that intention,’ said senior BJP leader Jaitley
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”.
Omar Abdullah said on Twitter: “Excellent move by @ narendramodi to invite SAARC leaders, especially
Pak PM, for his swearing in. Hope this is beginning of sustained talks.” He then added: “At the same time, I can’t help wonder what BJP would have said if a PM- designate Rahul Gandhi had done the same thing.”
In New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin, asked if the invitation to the Pakistan PM marked the beginning of a better relationship with its government, said the invites had gone out, and “let’s take responses on this, and we will take it from there rather than jump to conclusions on the basis of our first step”.
Those on the guest list also include Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Nepal PM Sushil Koirala.
Mr Akbaruddin added that informal consultations with several Saarc countries were held on this on Wednesday, and that the MEA hoped to get all the responses in the next two days.
With so many leaders expected at such short notice in what an Indian diplomat described as a “mini- summit”, the MEA has already begun preparations to host them.