Indian Prime Minister Modi Skips Russia's Traditional Victory Day Commemorations in Moscow on May 9
New Delhi Scoop:
Modi Skips Moscow's Victory Day Parade, Defence minister Rajnath Singh to Represent India
It's a no-show for PM Narendra Modi at the Russian Victory Day celebrations on May 9 in Moscow. Word on the street is that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be stepping up to the plate instead. Government insiders spilled the beans on Wednesday, adding that this decision was made earlier this month, prior to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Curious about Modi's whereabouts? Well, buckle up! He's got an official three-nation adventure coming up in Europe from May 13 to 17, hitting Croatia, Norway, and the Netherlands.
But what about the invite from the Kremlin for the Victory Day shindig? "India won't be sending its top gun, that is Modi," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Tass.
The Victory Day in Russia is a big deal, marking the triumph of the Allied forces over Nazi Germany in 1945 during World War II. Modi visited Russia twice last year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to return the favor with a visit to India later in the year.
So, why the change of plans? Indian authorities haven't given a specific reason for Modi's absence, but reports suggest that tensions with Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of a ferocious terror attack in Pahalgam, might have played a role in keeping Modi on home turf, focusing on domestic security matters.
With Modi's schedule packed with high-profile international engagements, like the G7 Summit in Canada, it's possible that scheduling factors also played a role. But as of now, the Indian delegation's specific names and seniority have remained under wraps.
Meanwhile, India will keep its commitment to the Victory Day parade in Moscow, sending a high-level delegation to represent the country, although the exact delegation members have not been officially unveiled as of yet.
Enrichment Data:
- Reasons for Modi's absence at the Victory Day Parade could be attributed to rising tensions with Pakistan following a significant terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
- Modi has multiple high-profile international engagements, including the G7 Summit in Canada, which might have contributed to scheduling considerations.
- India will, however, send a high-level delegation, but the specific names and seniority of the delegation remain undisclosed as of the latest reports. This approach is consistent with diplomatic practice when heads of government are unable to attend multilateral or significant foreign events.
War-and-conflicts seem to be the reason behind Modi's decision to miss the Russian Victory Day Parade, as tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack might have contributed to his focus on domestic security matters.Politics and general news reports also suggest that Modi has several high-profile international engagements, including the G7 Summit in Canada, which might have played a role in his inability to attend the parade, leading to the sending of a high-level Indian delegation instead.
