Invite to SAARC leaders: Rashid Alvi backs decision

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Sunday 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.

The Congress leader said that the PM-designate should be very careful as the people of India do not want another Kargil.

‘I appreciate his step. He has followed our own government’s policies. Dialouge is the only way to solve the problem,’ Alvi.

This is the first time that the heads of states of SAARC nations have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Indian Prime Minister.

Prime minister of Bhutan Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury arrived here on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will be among the foreign dignitaries attending the function in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nearly 3,000 people have been invited for it.

A host of leaders, including outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, besides leaders of various other parties and chief ministers of a number of states will also be attending the ceremony.