Rajnath Likely To Fill In For Modi At Russia's Victory Day Parade

The development comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Victory Day celebrations in Russia.

File photo of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Source : PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is to represent India at the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day to be held in Moscow next month, news agency PTI quoted on Wednesday.

 

The development comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Victory Day celebrations in Russia. "India will not be represented at the highest level," Peskov said.

 

President Vladimir Putin had invited Modi and Xi Jinping of China to attend the V-day celebration here to watch the victory parade at the Red Square. Xi has confirmed that he will attend the event.

 

 

"An invitation was extended to the prime minister to attend the Victory Day Parade at Moscow. The Russian side was informed earlier that India would be represented by Defence Minister Singh," news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

 

Preparations are underway to host about 20 foreign leaders in Moscow. May 9 marks the allied nations' victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Russia has invited leaders of several friendly nations to attend this year's Victory Day parade. 

 

Russia's state-run news agency quoted Putin as saying on Tuesday, “On the banks of the Volga, our troops halted and crushed the enemy.

 

 

A decisive blow was delivered to the Nazi war machine, marking a turning point in the war and opening the road westward — to Berlin and to the Great Victory, whose 80th anniversary we will solemnly celebrate very soon, on May 9."

 

PM Modi had travelled to Russia twice last year for an annual summit with President Vladimir Putin and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan. The Russian president is expected to visit India for the annual summit this year.