Shinzo Abe assassination: India to observe national mourning on July 9

FORMER Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was on Friday (8) assassinated by a man while giving a speech at a political campaign in the city of Nara in southern Japan. Doctors tried to revive the veteran politician for more than four-and-half hours but failed.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said in a tweet, “Officials say former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has been confirmed dead. He was reportedly shot during a speech on Friday in the city of Nara, near Kyoto.”

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Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party also confirmed the demise of the 67-year-old, Kyoto news agency reported.

Politicians in India, including prime minister Narendra Modi who had a close relation with Abe, expressed condolences over the latter’s death. Modi, who was distressed by the news of Abe’s shooting, later said in a tweet that India will observe national mourning on Saturday (9) as a mark of respect to the former Japanese prime minister, who was the country’s longest-serving one between 2006 and 2007 and 2012 and 2020 and stepped down because of health reasons.

In another tweet, Modi said, “I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.”

He also shared a picture of him and Abe in a third tweet, saying, "Sharing a picture from my most recent meeting with my dear friend, Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Always passionate about strengthening India-Japan ties, he had just taken over as the Chairman of the Japan-India Association."

Other Indian leaders express shock

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the death of Abe. The Indian National Congress leader, who lauded the late Japanese leader over his role in strengthening the strategic relationship between New Delhi and Tokyo, tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the demise of former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe. His role in strengthening the strategic relationship between India & Japan was commendable. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the Indo-Pacific. My condolences to his family and to the people of Japan.”

Shashi Tharoor, a parliamentarian from Gandhi’s party and a former junior foreign minister responded to the latter’s tweet saying, “Shinzo Abe was a true friend of India, whose visionary view of his country’s role in the region involved the centrality of the  Indo-Pacific. With his passing we have lost the strongest & most influential voice for Indo-Japanese relations. May he rest in peace. On Shanti.”

Jagat Prakash Nadda, the national president of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the death of Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese PM. My sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in peace. He will always be remembered as a visionary who served Japan relentlessly and worked towards strengthening India-Japan relations.”

Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh expresses grief to Japanese envoy

Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh expressed sadness over the assassination of Abe and said during his tenure, they both worked to raise ties between the two countries to the level of global and strategic partnership.

In a letter to Japanese ambassador in India Satoshi Suzuki, Singh described the late Japanese leader as his friend.

“I am deeply saddened and shocked to learn about the tragic assassination of Former Prime Minister His Excellency Shinzo Abe. He was a good friend of mine. During my tenure as Prime Minister, we worked to raise both our countries' ties to the level of a global and strategic partnership. Our efforts elevated India - Japan relations to a qualitatively new level,” Singh said in his letter to the Japanese envoy.

He also asked him to convey to the members of Abe’s family and the people of Japan his deepest condolences on this sad occasion.

[With PTI inputs]