In another tweet, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she had a meeting with her Hungarian counterpart. (File photo)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj could not attend today's swearing-in ceremony of 19 ministers due to a diplomatic engagement and, anticipating a negative headline in the media, she explained the reason for her absence well ahead of the event.
"Media - Pl avoid the headline: 'Sushma skips Oath Ceremony'," Ms Swaraj tweeted two hours before the oath ceremony.
In another tweet, she said she had a meeting with her Hungarian counterpart.
"I am unable to attend the swearing in ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan since I have a meeting with Foreign Minister of Hungary.
"I congratulate and welcome all my colleagues joining the Council of Ministers," Ms Swaraj said.
Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto is on a three-day visit in New Delhi and he and Ms Swaraj held extensive talks on a range of bilateral and multilateral issues today.