NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, according to Indian media reports, with India instead sending a junior-level delegation to represent the country.
According to The Times of India, India will be represented by the Governor of Bihar and the Minister of State for External Affairs at the funeral ceremony.
The decision has drawn criticism from some Indian political commentators and analysts. Political analyst Praveen Shandilya argued that Modi’s absence reflects concerns about the reaction of the United States and Israel.
Former Indian Army officer and defence analyst Major General (Retd.) G.D. Bakshi, who is often seen as supportive of the ruling BJP, also criticized the move, saying Modi should have attended the funeral, noting that Iran’s Supreme Leader had attended the funeral of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The report said critics view India’s decision to send a lower-level delegation despite receiving an invitation as inconsistent with its diplomatic outreach to Iran.
The article also noted that Pakistan has sent a high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to attend the funeral ceremonies in Tehran.
