The BJP on Thursday said invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi was a step towards forging good relations with neighbouring countries.
“It is in the interest of our nation to have good relations with neighbouring countries. That is why he (Sharif) has also been given invitation (for swearing-in ceremony). No one should have any problem with that,” senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said while interacting with the media here.
Naidu was among a host of senior BJP leaders, including party Chief Rajnath Singh, who were in the state capital to attend oath taking ceremony of newly-elected Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel.
For the first time, SAARC Heads of State and Government, including Sharif, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina have been invited to Modi’s swearing-in on May 26.
Asked about the controversy over the decision to invite Sharif, Singh declined to comment. “I don’t want to say anything on that matter. I just want to say that he (Sharif) has been invited.”
Meanwhile, Naidu took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who refused to furnish bail bond in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and chose to go to jail.
“He is not in picture now. Kejriwal has now become ‘Crazywal’. He is just doing drama and no one takes him seriously now,” Naidu remarked.
