Happenings around Modi’s swearing-in ceremony(further updated)

Ahmedabad, 24 May(updated on 25 May), 2014

-Barring the VVIPs, who will be allowed to come in their cars, the other guests will have to avail of pick and drop facility. For those who are unable to walk in the vast expanse, around 12 horse-drawn buggies will be provided to ferry them. Guests are to be seated in their chairs by 5 p.m., after which the routes would be closed.

-In view of security considerations, no bags and telephones will be allowed.

-Each of the ministers would be allowed to invite four guests, she added.

-The ceremony, to begin at 6 p.m., would last approximately one hour and 10 minutes, said officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan, refusing to divulge the number of ministers expected to be sworn in.

-Modi’s swearing-in ceremony Monday will be one of the biggest such events held at Rashtrapati Bhavan with around 4,000 guests, including seven heads of government, attending.Rashtrapati Bhavan has held ceremonies attended by 1,400-1,500 guests earlier.

-All 21 ministers of the newly formed Anandiben Patel-led Gujarat BJP government, along with office bearers of the BJP’s Gujarat unit will attend the swearing-in ceremony

-Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, wife Rashmi, son Aditya to attend Modi swearing-in.

-All roads leading to Rashtrapati Bhawan will be closed for general traffic from 2 PM to 8 PM.

-Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury arrived here today to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi tomorrow.

-Narendra Modi will visit Rajghat tomorrow morning to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of being sworn in as the 15th Prime Minister. Modi, who is scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy at 6 PM tomorrow, would visit Rajghat at 7 AM, official sources said today.

-Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is not attending the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister in New Delhi tomorrow, citing pre-scheduled engagements in the state, which prompted the BJP to term the decision as “unfortunate”.

-Congress leader Rashid Alvi today backed Narendra Modi’s decision to invite heads of SAARC countries, including Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, for his swearing-in, saying dialouge is the only way forward to solve problems.

-“This is a very good step taken by Narendra Modi to invite all heads of SAARC countries. This is a positive step but, at the same time, Modi should talk toughly to Nawaz Sharif regarding terrorism and Dawood Ibrahim,” Alvi, a former Rajya Sabha MP and a former spokesperson of the party, said.

-West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will send Mukul Roy and Amit Mitra for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.The BJP today said that it would have been better for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to have attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, but welcomed sending representatives. “I think the Chief Minister doesn’t have the courage to face Modi after the kind of words she used against him. But better late than never, at least she is sending her emissaries. It is good for the state,” BJP state president Rahul Sinha said.

-Tripura Chief Minister who belongs to Community Party of India will not attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in. He has cited pre-schedule programs for this decision. He will send a representative instead.

-The menu of high-tea and dinner on the occasion of Narendra Modi’s swearing-in will be vegetarian only according to reports. Lot of BJP fans are admiring BJP for decision to host vegetarian dinner.

-Delhi unit of BJP will celebrate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in with crackers, lighting and live relay over a giant screen at public place.

-Ahead of Modi’s swearing-in lot of BJP and NDA leaders are paying visit to Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh apparently to press for their inclusion in ministry. Maharashtra leader Ramdas Athwale, Uma Bharti were among such leaders who met Modi today. Senior party leaders Venkaiah Naidu, JP Nadda, Amit Shah also met Shri Modi. The Times of India has published a report that Nadda could be made President of BJP. In another development BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, Udit Raj, Vijay Goel, ID Swamy were among those meeting Rajnath Singh today. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to meet Narendrabhai on Sunday – a day before swearing-in.

-In view of preparations for Swearing-in-Ceremony, Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed for tours on May 24&25.Change of guard too is canceled.

-An “impregnable” air defence system in the sky and about 6,000 security personnel, from paramilitary commandos to police sharpshooters, on the ground will be deployed to guard heads of state and government who will be present at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

-The 6,000 security personnel will cover a two-km periphery around the presidential palace. They will be drawn from the Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, the National Security Guard (NSG) and armed forces.

-TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is set to be the first Chief Minister of Telangana next month, is likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.