NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the invitation to Saarc leaders for his swearing-in as a "right decision at the right time" and said his first major foreign policy initiative had sent out a message to the world about India's strength.
Speaking for the first time about his surprise initiative which got all-round praise, he said the world is still talking about it.
Visiting the BJP headquarters for the first time after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi said the world should realize the strength of India's democracy so that the country gets its due respect and status.
He noted that people have a lot of expectations from his government and it is the duty of his dispensation to keep pace with those aspirations.
"We have never thought beyond the country's frontiers. We are a big country, we are an old country, we are a big power. We should make the world realize it. Once we do it, the world will not shy away from giving us the due respect and status," the Prime Minister told a gathering of party cadres.
He referred to his initiative of inviting leaders of Saarc countries for the swearing-in of his council of ministers on May 26 and said it was a means to "give out a message to the world.
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