Preparations are in full swing for the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister for a third term, on Sunday. The ceremony will take place at 6 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital and will be attended by thousands of guests, including foreign dignitaries.
The guest list
Top leaders of neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan, Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck are expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Modi.
The guest list of foreign leaders was primarily guided by India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy' and its strategic focus on island nations considered important in the Indian Ocean region.
The media division of Wickremesinghe's office said Modi invited him to the swearing-in ceremony. It said Wickremesinghe accepted the invite.
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Maldivian officials confirmed that Muizzu along with the country's foreign minister and a few leaders will be travelling to New Delhi to attend the ceremony. This will be Muizzu's first visit to India as president of Maldives.
Sheikh Hasina and Nepal PM too have confirmed their presence.
Other dignitaries who will be attending the oath-taking ceremony of Modi include nearly 50 religious leaders from various faiths, Padma awardees, Viksit Bharat ambassadors, and people whose contributions Modi acknowledged during his 'Mann Ki Baat' speeches.
Security arrangements
A multi-layered security will blanket the Rashtrapati Bhawan ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of Modi. Five companies of paramilitary personnel, NSG commandoes, drones and snipers will be deployed to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries.
It will be a three-layered security both inside and outside the premises of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Commandoes from Delhi Police's SWAT and NSG will be deployed around the President's house and various strategic locations on the event day.
"Around 2500 police personnel, including five companies of paramilitary and Delhi Armed Police (DAP) jawans, have been planned to be deployed around the venue," police officials have been quoted as saying.
Snipers and armed police personnel will keep watch on the routes of the dignitaries and drones will be deployed at the strategic locations, according to a police officer.
Many roads leading to the central part of Delhi may be closed on Sunday or there may be traffic diversions since morning. There will be increased vehicles checking at the borders of the national capital from Saturday itself.
Delhi turns no-flying zone
Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders and declared the national capital no-flying zone ahead of the oath-taking ceremony. The prohibitory orders will remain imposed for two days—Sunday and Monday.
"It has been reported that certain criminal, anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations," Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora said in an order.
He further said, "In exercise of the power conferred upon me by section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or even by para jumping from aircraft etc over Delhi during the swearing-in ceremony and doing shall be punishable u/s 188 of the Indian Penal Code."
