PM Modi to skip Russia’s Victory Day parade, Rajnath Singh to attend
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Russia to participate in the Victory Day celebrations on May 9, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Pescov said.
The decision comes as tensions between India and Pakistan rise in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists.
PM Modi was scheduled to attend the Victory Day celebrations, which mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet Russia’s victory over Germany in World War II.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at Russia’s Victory Day parade next month, news agency PTI reports quoting sources.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Red Army’s victory over German Nazi forces in the Second World War.
In January 1945, the Soviet Army launched an offensive against Germany. The commanders-in-chief on May 9 signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany which ended the war.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked about the Russian invitation, had said that India has received an invitation, and it will be announcing its participation at the “appropriate time”.