Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Papitra Margherita is expected to attend the funeral program of the former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, representing India. The Iranian leader was assassinated when the United States and Israel bombed the country on February 28.
Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (retd) Syed Atta Hasnain is likely to be part of the Indian delegation, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The ceremony is scheduled to be held in Tehran on July 4.
Read also | MoS Margherita and Bihar guv Hasnain are likely to represent India at Khamenei’s funeral
Who is Pabitra Margherita?
A first-term Rajya Sabha member from Assam, Pabitra Margarita has been serving in the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since June 2024.
He was born on October 13, 1974 in the town of Margherita in the state of Assam. He completed his schooling in his hometown before obtaining a diploma in textile technology from the Assam Textile Institute in Guwahati.
He worked in the cultural and media field before entering electoral politics.
Between 1998 and 2005, he served as editor-in-chief of Assamese monthly magazines Maya and Sa ri ga ma. He has also produced more than 20 Assamese short films and documentaries and more than 100 Assamese folk and contemporary songs.
Margherita began his political career in 2014. He later held key positions in the Assam government, including Member Secretary of the Assam Advisory Committee for Students and Youth Welfare and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister.
From 2017 to 2021, he headed the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio, the Assamese government’s film studio, where he was associated with initiatives to promote Assamese art and culture.
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam in April 2022. On 9 June 2024, Margareta was sworn in as Union Minister. Two days later, he assumed the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Textiles. He is married to Assamese artist Dr. Gayatri Mahanta, and they have three children.
Read also | From Tehran to Mashhad: full details of Ali Khamenei’s funeral
Ali Khamenei’s funeral
As well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian He invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the six-day funeral programme, which will be held in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad.
According to Iranian state media, the funeral program will begin with a farewell ceremony in Tehran on July 4 and 5, followed by the main funeral procession in the capital on July 6.
A funeral ceremony is scheduled to be held in the holy city of Qom on July 7, before Khamenei is buried in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Iran also invited the leaders of China, Russia, Pakistan and Qatar. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already announced that an official delegation will attend the funeral.
