New Delhi: More than a day after Mikhail Gorbachev passed away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his ‘deepest condolences’ to the Russian statesman’s family and friends on September 1.
The former Soviet leader died at a hospital in Moscow on Tuesday, August 30, at the age of 91 after a “serious and prolonged illness”. His death prompted an outpouring of condolences and tributes from leaders across the world.
“I extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of H.E. Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev, one of the leading statesmen of the 20th century who left an indelible mark on the course of history. We recall and value his contribution to strengthening of relations with India,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
A Press Information Bureau notice on the tweet said, “The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief on the demise of H.E. Mikhail Gorbachev.”
Gorbachev, whose social and economic reforms led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, which eventually resulted in the end of the Cold War, is known to have played a pivotal role in laying a strong foundation for deeper bilateral relations between Moscow and New Delhi.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, Gorbachev was hailed as an iconic leader by the Western powers, but he was a target of scorn by millions of Russians as they blamed him for the collapse that triggered widespread economic woes.
Gorbachev, who was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until its collapse in 1991, was a strong votary of deeper strategic ties between Moscow and New Delhi, particularly in the areas of defence and economic engagement.
He visited India in 1986 and 1988. For his first visit to India in 1986, he was accompanied by an over-100-member delegation and held extensive talks with then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, vowing to expand bilateral cooperation and reaffirming their commitment to nuclear disarmament.
The visit was historic as it was Gorbachev’s first trip to any Asian country after he assumed the top post in the Soviet Union.
“When friends come calling, our hearts light up. We are delighted to have you amidst us,” Rajiv Gandhi had said at a joint press conference with Gorbachev.
Both Gandhi and Gorbachev were known to have developed a friendship and a sense of camaraderie and it began when the Indian leader travelled to Moscow in 1985.
“We will not take any step in our foreign policy that could damage India’s interests,” Gorbachev said at the media briefing in Delhi.
(With PTI inputs)