As Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi prepared to take oath on Monday evening, a foolproof security apparatus has been put in place in the national Capital.
Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be given multi-layered security cover in the wake of threat perception as the security agencies have left no stone unturned to ensure smooth and peaceful swearing-in ceremony. The Rashtrapati Bhavan and the areas surrounding it have virtually turned into fortress with nearly 10,000 security personnel keeping a hawk-eyed vigil over the preparations. The oath ceremony will take place in the forecourt of the sprawling President’s House where 3,000 guests, including heads of SAARC nations, will witness the function.
Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) Mukesh Kumar Meena said the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in the entire New Delhi district. “Full air defence grid is in place while major traffic restrictions will be imposed during the event. We are on guard against any terror activity,” said Meena.
The whole security arrangements have been divided into four zones. Indian Air Force has put in place an air defence system to secure the skies. Anti-aircraft guns have been placed at classified locations. Snipers will be deployed at all high-rise buildings around the high-security area hours before the ceremony begins at 6 pm. Mobile hit teams, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) have been deployed besides paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will shield the area. Dog squad and bomb-disposal squads have already sanitised the venue but the drill will be repeated on Monday. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos will be responsible for the inner layer of security. All buildings like North Block, South Block and defence buildings around Rashtrapati Bhavan will be shut by 1 pm; following which they will be sanitised by security agencies and their roof tops will be secured.
Security at Hyderabad House, where the bilateral talks are slated to be held, has also been heightened. There will be anti-sabotage checks on all roads leading to the President’s House and stretches like Rajpath, Vijay Chowk, South and North Avenue Marg, Dalhousie Road and Church Road will be closed for the movement of general traffic. Traffic Police officials said general traffic will not be allowed on the Raisina Road, Pandit Pant Marg, K Kamraj Marg, Moti lal Nehru Marg, E-Block, Security lines Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, Sardar Patel Marg, Vinay Marg, Shanker Road since afternoon.
Meanwhile, grand preparations -- including multi-cuisine Indian delicacies have been made for the swearing-in ceremony at the President’s House. Gujarati popular dish kela methi nu shaak, mouth-watering ‘Chicken chettinad’ from Tamil Nadu, Punjab’s Dal makhani and Bengali dish Potol Dorma will be served at a private dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee for visiting foreign dignitaries. The visiting leaders from SAARC countries and Mauritius will have a lavish spread out at ‘Yellow Drawing Room’ of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
This is the first time that the heads of SAARC nations have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister. Modi, 63, and his Council of Ministers will take their oath of offices in the presence of a host big-wigs of Opposition leaders, including outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Chief Ministers of a several States would also be present. However, Congress CMs of Karnataka and Kerala are not attending swearing-in while there was suspense on whether Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will participate amid reports that she has decided to boycott it. Modi’s mother Hiraben, understood to have come under the SPG protection, is also expected to attend the ceremony.
The Prime Minister-designate will visit Rajghat on Monday morning to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of being sworn-in as Prime Minister. Following in the footsteps of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi had expressed his desire to be sworn-in at the forecourt so that a large number of visitors can be accommodated for the ceremony. Chandrashekar was another Prime Minister who had taken oath at the same venue.
The historic Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan is the usual venue for such ceremonies. But since it can accommodate about 500 people, the forecourt was decided as the suitable venue.
The dishes to be served in the main course to the foreign dignitaries include ‘Prawns Sukka’ or ‘Chicken chettinad’ Birbali Kofta curry (Mughlai), Jaipuri Bhindi (Rajasthan), Dal makhani and Potol Dorma. The VVIP will be served with chilled melon soup with snacks -- including chicken and mutton tikka, tandoori aaloo and arabi kebab as starters.
For desert, they will be served with mango ‘shrikhand’, Sandesh and fruits. At their departure from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the VVIPs will be given a ‘Paan’ as mouth freshener. The dinner will also be attended by the new Prime Minister and his ministerial team. After the swearing-in, refreshments will be provided to nearly 4,000 guests where six snacks, including “dhokla” - a Gujarati vegetarian food, will be provided.