New Delhi: Japan’s longest-serving leader, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, died on Friday (July 8, 2022) after being shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election. Abe was taken to a hospital after being shot at an event in the southern Japanese city of Nara. Expressing condolence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India will observe national mourning following the demise of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on Saturday.
PM Modi said in a tweet, “As a mark of our deep respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a day of national mourning will be observed on 9th July 2022.”
As a mark of our deep respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a day of national mourning will be observed on 9 July 2022. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 8 July 2022
PM Modi also shared a picture of himself with Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on his official Twitter handle. Sharing a picture from my most recent meeting with my dear friend Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, the Prime Minister said in a tweet. Always passionate about strengthening India-Japan relations, he served as the President of the Japan-India Association. took over as ,
Sharing a picture of my most recent meeting with my dear friend Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Always passionate about strengthening India-Japan relations, he had just taken over as the President of the Japan-India Association. pic.twitter.com/Mw2nR1bIGz— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 8 July 2022
Indian politicians expressed shock and distress:
Earlier, PM Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the attack on former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. “Deeply pained by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo. Our condolences and prayers are with him, his family and the people of Japan,” Modi tweeted.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the attack on Abe as “shocking and unfortunate”. “The news of the attack on former Japan PM Shinzo Abe is extremely shocking and unfortunate. My condolences to his family and supporters,” Kejriwal tweeted.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed grief over the attack on the former Prime Minister of Japan. “Deeply shocked by the news about former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Join his many friends and fans in India in praying for him and his family,” Jaishankar tweeted.
About the event:
Japanese media outlet NHK tweeted on its official Twitter handle, “Officials say the death of former Prime Minister of Japan Abe Shinzo has been confirmed. He was reportedly shot during a speech Friday in the city of Nara, near Kyoto. was killed.”
Earlier today, 67-year-old Abe was taken to hospital after collapsing at 11.30 am (local time) during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara ahead of Sunday’s election to Japan’s upper house of parliament.
Notably, Abe, the longest-serving prime minister of Japan, stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons. He was the Prime Minister of Japan twice, from 2006–07 and again from 2012–20. He was succeeded by Yoshihide Suga and later by Fumio Kishida.