Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi takes oath in Sanskrit holding Vedas in hand

Suriname’s newly-elected President Chandrikapersad Santokhi took oath in Sanskrit while holding Vedas in his hand during inauguration ceremony on July 16. While taking oath, Santokhi repeated Sanskrit verses chanted by priest. South American nation elected Santokhi as new President, replacing former military strongman Desi Bouterse.

Santokhi, a former chief of police, was born on February 3, 1959, and grew up in countryside as youngest in a family of nine children. He studied at Police Academy 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.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar recently congratulated Krishna Mathoera on becoming Defense Minister of Suriname. Mathoera, a policewoman-turned-politician, belongs to Progressive Reform Party (VHP) and is a member of National Assembly of Suriname. Mathoera successfully supervised election and anunced that mination process had been done correctly. 

Coalition government

National Democratic Party (NDP) lost its majority in Parliament in general elections held on May 25, paving way for VHP to rule country kwn for its melting-pot culture. VHP General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) are part of ruling coalition which also includes National Party of Suriname (NPS) and Pertjajah Luhur (PL). coalition controls a decisive 33 seats out of 51 in parliament. As part of coalition deal, ABOP leader Ronnie Brunswijk was elected as Vice President without any opposition. 

Read: Suriname Finally Issues Vote Results Showing Opposition Win

Indian social media was excited to see a foreign leader taking oath in Sanskrit and congratulated him. Check out some of reactions:

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