Congress MP hails invite to Nawaz Sharif, targets Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Congress MP and former Union Minister M S Gill today hailed BJP's decision to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony and targeted outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not showing similar "imagination".

"I welcome the invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi," Gill told PTI.

"I hope he (Sharif) will come because we need to make a start and break the frozen mould of our relationship. Both people need to go forward in friendship," said the Congress member of Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Gill, who was Youth Affairs and Sports Minister in the UPA government, added, "I regret that our Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) did not show imagination to attend Nawaz Sharif's swearing-in" last year.

Gill was earlier the Chief Election Commissioner. BJP has invited the heads of SAARC countries including Pakistan and Sri-Lanka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi which would take place on May 26.

Sri Lankan President President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom have already sent their confirmation of attending the function.