Indian envoy joins France unity rally

NEW DELHI: India sent its ambassador to France, Arun Singh, to participate in Sunday's unity rally in Paris, in solidarity with France against the brutal terror attack on a group of cartoonists.
Questioned, MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin said an invitation had come to the Indian government and it was decided that like most other countries, India would be represented by its envoy. Though the French government had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he could not go. Other notable invitees also could not make it to the rally in Paris. Both US secretary of state John Kerry and UN secretary general Ban ki Moon were present at the Vibrant Gujarat summit, and were unable to make it to Paris.

Therefore, Modi's speech in Gujarat began with expression of solidarity with France. He also called French president Francois Hollande to speak to him about cooperating on terrorism.

The heads of state and government present at the rally were mainly from Europe (Cameron, Merkel), the Middle East (Netanyahu, Abbas), and from Africa (from Mali and Niger). Most other nations in the world were represented by their ambassadors.