The country will get it's 15th Prime Minister today. Mr. Narendra Modi, who led BJP to an astounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections, will be sworn-in as the Prime Minister at a grand function in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan at 6 PM.
Nearly 4,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremony. Top leaders from SAARC countries, including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will attend the ceremony. This is the first time that the heads of state of SAARC nations have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian Prime Minister.
President Pranab Mukherjee will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Modi and his council of Ministers in the presence of outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, besides leaders of various other parties and Chief Ministers of a number of states.
Ahead of being sworn-in, Mr. Modi paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi in Rajghat this morning. He was accompanied by some BJP leaders, including Prakash Javdekar and Dr. Harshvardhan.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the swearing-in ceremony of Mr. Narendra Modi. AIR correspondent reports that traffic restrictions have been imposed to facilitate invitees to reach the venue.
All India Radio – Delhi will broadcast live the swearing-in ceremony from 5:55 PM on its Rajdhani channel today. The News Services Division of All India Radio will broadcast a special live bilingual discussion in Hindi and English on the formation of the new Council of Ministers before the swearing-in-ceremony from 5:30 PM to 5:55 PM, and also immediately after the live broadcast of the swearing-in-ceremony upto 7:35 PM.
All AIR Stations including local radio stations, FM Gold channels and FM Rainbow channels will relay the entire programme from 5:30 PM.
The News Services Division of all India Radio will also broadcast a live bilingual phone-in programme in Hindi and English from 9:30 to 10 PM. It can be heard on Indraprastha, Rajdhani, FM Gold, FM Rainbow channels and additional frequencies. Listeners can pose questions to the experts in our Studios on the issues before the new Government on the telephone number: 011: 2331-4444. This programme will also be available on Doordarshan DTH.
