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PM Modi Offers Tribute to Former PM Shinzo Abe

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the late former Prime Minister Abe, who was shot dead almost three months back when the former leader was making a campaign speech outside a busy train station in western Japan on July 8.

Updated on: 27 September, 2022 5:23 PM IST By: Shruti Kandwal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays respects to Shinzo Abe at his state funeral in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo Courtesy: PM Modi Twitter)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Over 20 Heads of State/Government and representatives from over 100 nations attended the State Funeral.

Almost three months after Shinzo Abe’s demise, today Japan honored him at the first state funeral for a former premier in 55 years with flowers, prayers, and a 19-gun salute.

World leaders including PM Narendra Modi, US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese attended the ceremony.

At 10.30 am, the state funeral began, and PM Modi joined other world leaders in paying their condolences to former PM Abe. In a gesture of respect, PM Modi, who had earlier referred to Abe as a "friend of India," bowed and placed a small bouquet of white flowers on the altar.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before their meeting at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo, Tuesday.

He further took to Twitter to express his remorse and said, “When I was in Tokyo earlier this year, little did I imagine I would be back for the solemn program of former PM Abe’s state funeral. He was a great leader, a phenomenal individual, and someone who believed in India-Japan friendship. He shall live on in the hearts of millions.”

Meanwhile, PM Modi who arrived in Tokyo earlier met up with sitting PM Fumio Kishida and then posted about the same on Twitter.

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