Abe, 67, died in hospital almost five-and-a-half hours after he was shot while making an election campaign speech in Nara city. Police arrested Tetsuya Yamagami, a former member of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, who shot the former premier.
“I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place,” Modi said in a set of tweets.
“As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022,” he said.
Abe made “an immense contribution to elevating India-Japan relations to the level of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, and the whole of India “mourns with Japan and we stand in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters in this difficult moment”, he added.
