Govt announces 7-day national mourning for Vajpayee
New Delhi, Aug 16 : The Centre on Thursday announced a seven-day national mourning and state funeral for the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who will be cremated at Smriti Sthal on the banks of river Yamuna on Friday.
The national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India and Indian missions abroad between August 16 and 22 -- the period of national mourning.
These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the Central government offices will be closed for half day on Friday afternoon in Delhi and across the country, along with the Central Public Sector Undertakings.
The Delhi government offices will also remain closed.
The Cabinet also decided that there will be no official entertainment during the entire period of state mourning.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
