New Delhi, March 4 -- Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, Special Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, described the late Ayatollah Khamenei as Iran's "father" and a towering spiritual authority whose death, according to him, marks a profound loss not just for Iran but for millions of followers worldwide.

In an interview with ANI, Ilahi said, "Actually, our Supreme Leader wasn't just an ordinary leader. He was our father. He was our spiritual leader. He was our Marja in our religion. Marja means authentic, which we rely on him. He is not only for Iranians. There are millions of Muslims who like and love him. Millions of Muslims support him, and they follow him. He was our everything, and his martyrdom is a very big loss for everyone....