New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited by Russia to attend the May 9 celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Germany in World War II, is unlikely to travel to the country, media reports said, adding that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was expected to represent India.
Earlier, Russia’s state-run Tass news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko as saying that Moscow has invited Modi to attend celebrations and the Indian premier is expected at the May 9 parade. “It’s being worked out...He [Modi] has an invitation,” Rudenko said on April 8.
Singh visited Russia in December last year for the Commissioning Ceremony of INS Tushil in Kaliningrad. He also paid tributes at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honor the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War and interacted with members of the Indian community.
PM Modi traveled to Russia twice last year for an annual summit with President Vladimir Putin and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan. Russia has invited the leaders of several friendly nations to attend the Victory Day parade. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh attended the Russian Victory Day parade in 2005, which marked the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
Putin has already accepted Modi's invitation to visit India this year. He is expected to travel to India this year as part of the established framework for reciprocal annual engagements between the two nations' leaders. However, the dates of Putin's visit have not been revealed yet.
