Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute at the National War Memorial ahead of his swearing-in ceremony. Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Vice Chief of Air Force Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria were also present there.
Earlier, Modi visited Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he also paid his respects at the memorial of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was accompanied by BJP president Amit Shah as well as all other MPs.
The swearing-in ceremony will begin at 7 pm, with over 7,000 guests attending an event including foreign dignitaries, allies and adversaries.
According to the sources, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh will be in attendance for the swearing-in ceremony.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday decided not to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Referring to the BJP’s allegation that 54 of its workers had been killed in political violence in West Bengal Mamata called it “completely untrue” and said there had been no political violence in the state.
Meanwhile, Arun Jaitley ruled himself out of the new cabinet due to health reasons. He wrote to Narendra Modi that he should be allowed a reasonable time for himself, his treatment and his health and therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new government.
