Singapore founding father's funeral: National mourning in India on Sunday

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will attend Lee Kuan Yew's funeral on March 29 as well as discuss bilateral issues between the 2 countries with senior leader Goh Chok Tong, who had succeeded Lee as prime minister in 1990, during his visit to Singapore.

India had declared national mourning on Sunday to pay respect to the first prime minister of Singapore who died on March 23. Modi will depart for Lee's funeral late night on Saturday. He is expected to return early morning on Monday.

Goh had taken over as prime minister from the legendary Lee in 1990 and served in that capacity for the next 14 years. Emeritus senior minister Goh visited India last year. After his meeting with Modi, during which the 2 leaders discussed ways to improve infrastructure in India, Goh had said that the new NDA government was working with a sense of purpose.

While discussing Modi's smart city idea, Goh had described India and China as two "huge wings" which could lift the Asian economy. Goh gave a thumbs up to Modi's 100 smart cities project, drawing a parallel with Singapore's own experience of creating a "liveable city".

Modi is also expected to travel to Singapore later this year on the occasion of 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Current Singapore PM and Lee's son Lee Hsien Loong had last year written to Modi to congratulate him on his victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Inviting Modi to Singapore for the 50th anniversary of India-Singapore ties, Lee Hsien told Modi, "It is an auspicious milestone which I hope can be a springboard to raise our bilateral partnership to new heights."

http://ift.tt/1oaVKu3 Narendra Modi,NDA government,Lee Kuan Yew,Lee Hsien Loong,Goh Chok Tong

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