Friendly gesture

Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has invited all the heads of governments of the SAARC countries to his swearing-in-ceremony to be held on May 26 in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. It shows that he wants friendly relations with all the neighbours. It also gives signals his primacy to peace and development in the neighbourhood. Modi is going to focus on foreign policy matters in a very positive way. The invitation to Pak Premier Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in-ceremony gives clear signal that Narendra Modi usually known as the bitter critic of India’s arch rival Pakistan now very much interested in establishing peace in the neighbourhood. Though Pakistan foreign ministry has confirmed the invitation, Nawaz Sharif’s participation in the swearing ceremony is yer to be decided by Pak establishment. Since Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has got absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections, he has appeared very positive, friendly and a forward-looking personality to give India a new way of peace and development. By inviting all the heads of SAARC countries, especially Pakistan, Narendra Modi wants to give a clear message to the world that the perception of his being hardliner which was created by his rival political leaders at home and abroad is totally false and he solely believes in peace with all. He has also given the message in the neighbourhood that there is no need to be frightened with his being the prime minister of India. As far as India’s arch rival Pakistan is concerned, Narendra Modi wants it to be rest assured that he would never behave with it in such a way as it could displease it. As long as he and his party Bharatiya Janata Party was in opposition, he always opposed any attempt of the previous government to improve relations with Pakistan. So, an impression was created that he was against Pakistan and animosity with it would increase with Narendra Modi at the helms of affairs in India. As far as relation of India with its neighbours is concerned, it has been bitter during the previous government. Narendra Modi has felt it rightly. That is why it is for the first time that all the heads of governments of Saarc nation have been invited to attend the swearing-in- ceremony of India's PM. An impression will be made that the new government in India is inclined to establish friendly relations with all its neighbours. Friendly relation with neighbours is good but it must not be at the cost of national interest. The BJP-led NDA government under the prime ministership of Atal Behari Vajpayee had very good relation with Bangladesh but how it treated with our BSF personnel is known to all. Another incident is of the hijack of Indian airlines to Kandhar and at that time Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had very good relations with neighbouring countries. So, good and friendly relation is the need of the hour, but not at national interests.