Congress on Thursday criticised Bharatiya Janata Party for sending an invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Congress leader Manish Tewari reminded BJP its earlier stand that terror and talks cannot go hand in hand.
The Congress leader said while it was the prerogative of the elected government to invite whosoever they want for their swearing-in ceremony, Tewari said the BJP should not forget that Manmohan Singh had come under attack from them for carrying forward the process of normalising relations with the neighbour initiated by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
BJP has rejected objections by some NDA allies to the invitation extended to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the swearing-in ceremony.
Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the invitation is an attempt to celebrate democracy and should be seen in that context.
She said inviting SAARC countries is a responsible gesture for creating goodwill on the occasion when a newly- elected Prime Minister is being sworn in.
Meanwhile six SAARC countries have so far confirmed their participation in the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister- designate Narendra Modi to be held on May 26.
External affairs ministry sources said Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will attend the ceremony.
Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Chaudhury will represent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the function.
Akbaruddin said Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam will also be present on the occasion.
The confirmation from the Pakistan side on whether Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the ceremony is yet to come.
Source: Prothom Alo
