WASHINGTON, May 27: American media today gave wide coverage to the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and praised his decision to invite leaders of the South Asian nations.
“Narendra Modi sworn in as Indian prime minister, heralding change,” said the headline of the prestigious ‘Los Angeles Times’. “Narendra Modi was sworn in Monday as India’s 15th prime minister, offering a new, more conservative government to a country thirsty for economic change,” it said.
Taking note of the presence of the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), especially Pakistan Premier, the report said: “The ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi was notable for the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who reportedly ignored warnings from his own intelligence agency to attend.
“Relations have been tense between the two nuclear-armed rivals,” it added.
Tracing the humble and ideological lineage of Modi, ‘The Wall Street Journal’ said: “Narendra Modi, the son of a tea seller with political roots in India’s Hindu nationalist movement, was sworn in as prime minister of the world’s largest democracy, putting in place a leaner central government and promising Indians “a glorious future.”
“Getting India’s economy growing at a faster clip will be a top priority for Mr Modi, who was propelled to power by voters who want better job opportunities, higher standards of living and a more efficient government,” it said.
The Journal added, some analysts say, Modi is likely to make major decisions from the prime minister’s office.
“That would mark a departure from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s more hands-off governing style,” it said.
The ‘Chicago Tribune’ said for the first time, India invited the heads of state of the entire, eight-nation SAARC to the ceremony, and all sent representatives.
“However, it was the presence of Sharif, who was said to have made the trip despite the opposition of his country’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, that turned heads,” it said.
Sharif’s presence was also noticed by ‘The Washington Post’: “Sharif’s attendance was seen as a gesture of goodwill between the rival nations. It was the largest such gathering in the space.”
“Modi, a lover of technology, had run the most costly, tech-savvy and ambitious political campaign in India’s history, traveling more than 180,000 miles and appearing at more than 5,000 events after he was officially named the party’s choice for prime minister in September,” the Post said.
“Credited for his pro-business approach as the chief of Gujarat,” broadcaster CNN added, “India’s new leader has also raised expectations that his government will succeed in turning around India’s slowing economy, generate more jobs and rein in soaring prices and deeply entrenched corruption, issues that are widely believed to have brought about the fall of Singh’s government.” (PTI)
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