<p>Seeking to downplay misgivings over the invitation to Saarc leaders to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said it has been done to showcase the strength of India’s democracy and therefore should not be viewed from the prism of bilateral issues.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“The invitation to all leaders of Saarc nations to be present at the ceremony is to showcase Indian democracy and its strength to the world at large. It is a democracy event. It should not be viewed through the prism of bilateral issues between countries,” Jaitley said in a statement.<br /><br />He said representation of India’s neighbours at the event “reaffirms India’s faith in both democracy and greater integration of the region.”<br /><br />Jaitley said the general election has been a great celebration of Indian democracy, given that it is the largest exercise of its kind in the world. The country should be proud of concluding the process in a peaceful and fair manner, resulting in a democratic change of power.<br /><br />He said the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister- designate Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers on May 26 “will be culmination of these celebrations, before the new government gets down to work.”<br /></p>
<p>Seeking to downplay misgivings over the invitation to Saarc leaders to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said it has been done to showcase the strength of India’s democracy and therefore should not be viewed from the prism of bilateral issues.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“The invitation to all leaders of Saarc nations to be present at the ceremony is to showcase Indian democracy and its strength to the world at large. It is a democracy event. It should not be viewed through the prism of bilateral issues between countries,” Jaitley said in a statement.<br /><br />He said representation of India’s neighbours at the event “reaffirms India’s faith in both democracy and greater integration of the region.”<br /><br />Jaitley said the general election has been a great celebration of Indian democracy, given that it is the largest exercise of its kind in the world. The country should be proud of concluding the process in a peaceful and fair manner, resulting in a democratic change of power.<br /><br />He said the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister- designate Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers on May 26 “will be culmination of these celebrations, before the new government gets down to work.”<br /></p>
