New Delhi, July 8: Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the attack against former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, and recounted the occasion when Abe visited Varanasi, gifted the City Convention Centre 'Rudrakash' which was built with Japan's support.
The ex-Japanese PM's special relationship with India as he was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in 2021 and Netaji Award in 2022.
Born in 1954, Shinzo Abe is the longest-serving PM in Japan's history. While he first became the PM in September 2006, he resigned after a year in office owing to medical complications. Leading the Liberal Democratic Party to victory in 2012, he was again elected as the PM.
At 11.30 am local time on Friday, Shinzo Abe was shot from behind in Nara city while delivering a speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for upcoming elections to the House of Councillors.
Reportedly, police officials stated that he was shot twice with a shotgun from a distance of 3 metres. In a state of cardiopulmonary arrest, Abe is critical and showing no vital signs as of now. He was immediately taken to Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara city via air ambulance.