President Droupadi Murmu is set to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi and his council of ministers on June 9 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Preparations have begun in full swing for the event amid heightened security in the national capital as Narendra Modi begins his third consecutive term.
The swearing-in ceremony has been set for 7:15 PM on June 9 (Sunday) in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prominent guests
The swearing-in ceremony is anticipated to host leaders from neighbouring countries, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius, in addition to the Maldives, aligning with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Indian dignitaries will include lawyers, doctors, artists, cultural performers, influencers, Viksit Bharat ambassadors, beneficiaries of Central government schemes, tribal women, and sanitation workers. Around 50 religious leaders from all faiths have also been invited besides Padma awardees and Mann Ki Baat participants.
Special attendees
The list of invitees for his oath-taking ceremony runs into several hundreds. Apart from political leaders, both from the treasury benches and the opposition, there is going to be a significant presence of people from the film fraternity, sports fraternity, top industrialists and businessmen among others.
But here is what sets Narendra Modi different from all the others in the past. Modi has prepared a list of special invitees who will attend the big day. News18 has learned that a special invite has been sent to beneficiaries of the Central government schemes. A few transgenders have also been invited. Apart from this, an invitation has been sent to labourers who have worked on the Central Vista project that includes the building of the new Parliament. An invitation has also been sent to safai karamcharis or sanitation workers. As the strong ambassadors of building a strong India, there has also been an invitation sent to people who have worked in the railways on key projects like Vande Bharat trains and the Metro project. An invite has been sent to Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman loco pilot, too.
“The prime minister is known to respect the contribution of every ambassador who has been involved in the building of a strong nation. Gone are the days when the invites were sent only to VIPs and VVIPs. Our prime minister considers those who never get their dues or importance as VIP guests,” a source told News18.
The source further added, “10 special invites from the above categories have been informed that they would be watching this ceremony. We have seen how the prime minister has been popular amongst every strata of the society. He has considered nobody small. Anybody who has worked for a better India will be given their due recognition.”
No Change Of Guard Ceremony
The Rashtrapati Bhavan has cancelled the weekly Change of Guard ceremony on June 8, 15, and 22 due to the preparations for the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister and his council of ministers at its forecourt, and address to both the houses of the parliament by President Droupadi Murmu. The change of guard ceremony is a military tradition which is held every week to enable a fresh group of the President’s Bodyguards (PBGs) to take over.
Three-tier security system
An elaborate security system has been put up for the high-profile event. Key measures include special arrangements for the inner perimeter around Rashtrapati Bhavan and Kartavya Path, outer perimeter around hotels where foreign dignitaries will stay, including the Taj, Maurya, Leela, and Oberoi, and outermost perimeter which includes ground-to-air surveillance and comprehensive security cover in central Delhi.
Meanwhile, intelligence units in India and abroad have been mobilised along with increased frisking at traffic checkpoints, sealing of borders and setting up of control rooms.
SECURITY BEEFED UP IN DELHI
Meanwhile, top officials from Delhi Police conducted a thorough security review at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the preparation for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony for the third term as Prime Minister on June 9, reported news agency ANI.
In addition to on-ground security, Delhi Police issued a public advisory on Friday announcing a No-Fly Zone over the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
The advisory prohibits the operation of sub-conventional aerial platforms, which aims to prevent any potential threats from criminal, anti-social elements, or terrorists during the swearing-in ceremony.
The public advisory further said that the prohibition will be effective from June 9 to June 10, 2024. Violators will face penalties under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
The security measures follow the formal appointment of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister by the President of India on Friday.
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