Narendra Modi takes charge as PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was sworn in on Monday, formally assumed charge of his office on Tuesday.

He was greeted with bouquets of flowers as he reached South Block that houses the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr. Modi waved at the media persons waiting for him.

Before taking his seat, he paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s photograph and then took office.

Modi to meet SAARC leaders, including Sharif

Narendra Modi meets his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and other leaders from the SAARC countries on Tuesday in one of his first engagements after taking charge, officials said.

Mr. Modi has a busy day ahead.

Though Mr. Modi will be meeting all leaders from the SAARC countries as also the Mauritius Prime Minister on Tuesday, it is his meeting with Mr. Sharif that has aroused the maximum interest in the media due to the troubled relationship between the two countries over the years.

There is a sense of anticipation among the people of both countries over Mr. Sharif’s meeting with Mr. Modi. The meeting will take place at 11.45 a.m. and is expected to last about 25 minutes.

SAARC leaders had flown in to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Officials termed the meetings of the leaders with Mr. Modi as “courtesy meetings” without any structured bilateral agenda.

Mr. Modi’s first meeting on Tuesday will be with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Hyderabad House at 9.30 a.m.

It will be followed by meetings with Maldives President Abdullah Yameen, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

Bangladesh parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will also meet Mr. Modi.

Mr. Sharif, Mr. Karzai, Mr. Yameen, Mr. Rajapaksa and Mr. Ramgoolam are scheduled to fly out on Tuesday after their meetings with Mr. Modi.

Mr. Tobgay, Ms. Chaudhury and Mr. Koirala are scheduled to leave on May 28.