New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Congress leader KC Venugopal on Saturday said that the party leaders have not received any invitation to the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi tomorrow.
"So far we have not received any information from the government. We have not received any invitation...foreign leaders have been invited. Being the principal opposition party and the INDIA bloc leadership, we have not been informed. I do not know what the mood of the government is," Venugopal told ANI.
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is set to take the oath on June 9 at 7:15 PM.
After the party's CWC meeting, Venugopal in a press conference said that CWC unanimously requested Rahul Gandhi to take the position of the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha.
"CWC (Congress Working Committee) unanimously requested Rahul Gandhi to take the position of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha...Rahul ji is the best person to lead this campaign inside the Parliament," he said.
On JDU leader KC Tyagi's reported statement that "Nitish Kumar was offered PM post by INDIA bloc", Venugopal said, "We don't have any such information."
Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on the swearing-in ceremony of PM Designate Narendra Modi claimed that the party leaders have not received the invitation yet.
"Only international leaders have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. Our leaders have not received the invitation yet. When our INDIA alliance leaders receive the invitation, we will think about it," he said.
Earlier today, the meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee was held in the national capital.
As India gears up for Narendra Modi's third consecutive term oath-taking ceremony as Prime Minister on June 9, the Delhi Police has taken strict measures to ensure security during the event.
According to Delhi police officials, multi-layered security arrangements have been arranged for the event. Five companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed for the security of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Apart from this, NSG commandos, drones, and snipers will also guard the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the mega event.
Meanwhile, as the day is set to witness the presence of dignitaries worldwide for the swearing-in ceremony, tight security arrangements have been made according to the protocol for each Head of state. Apart from this, security arrangements for the hotels, where the dignitaries will be staying, have also been enhanced.
According to the police, the area around the Rashtrapati Bhavan has been made a 'controlled' area.
In areas including, Sansad Marg, Rafi Marg, Raisina Road, Rajendra Prasad Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, and Sardar Patel Marg, vehicles having passes of the event will be allowed for the movement.
According to the police, this programme will be monitored by more than 500 CCTVs. Section 144 has also been imposed in the entire New Delhi. Given the swearing-in ceremony, many restrictions have been imposed by the Delhi Police for June 9 and 10.
Delhi has been declared a "no-flying" zone. During this time, the flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, UAVs, UAS, microlight aircraft, and remote-controlled aircraft has been banned in the national capital.
The security measures follow the formal appointment of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister by the President of India on Friday.
The letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also given to the President.
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303.
The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong improvement, winning 99 seats. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 292 seats, the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions. (ANI)
