PM Modi congratulates Suriname President Santokhi, lauds him for taking oath in Sanskrit

In his 67th edition of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, July 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Suriname President Chandrika Paras Santokhi and ded that it was 'a matter of pride' for Indians that Suriname’s President took oath of office holding Vedas. 

While taking oath of office on July 16, Santokhi repeated Sanskrit verses chanted by priest and concluded his oath with 'Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti'. In his statements that went on air, PM Modi praised gesture and said that India has “a very close relationship” with Suriname. 

Re: Suriname President Chandrikapers Santokhi Takes Oath In Sanskrit Holding Vedas In Hand

Speaking about Suriname, PM Modi said, “More than a hundred years ago, people from India went re and me it ir home. Today, fourth or fifth generation is re. Today in Suriname more than one-fourth of people are of Indian origin. 'Sarnami' one of common langus re is a dialect of Bhojpuri. We Indians feel very proud of se cultural relations.”

He ded, “Holding Vedas in his hand he said, I, Chandrika Pras Santokhi, and, furr what did he say in his oath? He recited a hymn from Vedas itself." 

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Wishes on behalf of 130 crore Indians

Moreover, PM Modi lauded cultural ties of  South American nation with India that recently out voted former military strongman Desi Bouterse to elect Santokhi from Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Parliamentary Conference, according to reports. 

I congratulate Chandrika Pras Santokhi, and, wish him best on behalf of 130 crore Indians, for serving his nation, Prime Minister Modi said on Mann Ki Baat.

As per reports, Santokhi, a former chief of police, was born in 1959 and grew up in countryside as youngest in a family of nine children. He studied at Police Acemy of Nerlands in Apeldoorn for four years and returned to Suriname in September 1982 to work for police. In 1991, Santokhi was appointed chief commissioner of police. 

(With ANI inputs)

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