Foreign invitees start arriving for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony

Foreign leaders began to arrive in New Delhi to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, who arrived yesterday (Wednesday) was the first one to reach Delhi.

New Delhi: With just hours left before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries-Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand besides India- have started arriving in New Delhi to attend the grand celebration at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth was the first to arrive this morning. He was followed by Bhutan's PM Lotay Tshering. Both leaders were welcomed by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

Foreign dignitaries arrived for Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid reached Delhi on Wednesday evening.

The representatives from Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyz Republic and Nepal are yet to arrive. Apart from Mauritius and Kyrgyz Republic rest of the countries are part of BIMSTEC.

In 2014, when Modi won his first term, invitations were extended to SAARC leaders including the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the event. However, Imran Khan has been kept out of the list of invitees this time.