News Analysis India

Tag: Republic Day

  • Congress may end 3,500-km Bharat Jodo Yatra on Republic Day

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party, according to sources, has taken a big decision for the selection of a special day for Bharat Jodo Yatra. According to sources, the Congress has decided that the Bharat Jodo Padyatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 26 in Kashmir covering a distance of about 3500 km.

    “In fact, the Congress was going to end this yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on February 20, but now under the new strategy, Rahul Gandhi will conclude his yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on Republic Day,” said sources.

    According to Congress sources, after January 26, a plenary session of the Congress will also be held before February 7, in which the name of Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge will be approved, after which the new Congress Working Committee will be formed. Immediately after that major changes will also be made in the Congress organisation which have been postponed for a long time. A meeting of the Steering Committee is also scheduled to be convened on December 4 at Party Headquarters in Delhi.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party, according to sources, has taken a big decision for the selection of a special day for Bharat Jodo Yatra. According to sources, the Congress has decided that the Bharat Jodo Padyatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 26 in Kashmir covering a distance of about 3500 km.

    “In fact, the Congress was going to end this yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on February 20, but now under the new strategy, Rahul Gandhi will conclude his yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on Republic Day,” said sources.

    According to Congress sources, after January 26, a plenary session of the Congress will also be held before February 7, in which the name of Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge will be approved, after which the new Congress Working Committee will be formed. Immediately after that major changes will also be made in the Congress organisation which have been postponed for a long time. A meeting of the Steering Committee is also scheduled to be convened on December 4 at Party Headquarters in Delhi.

  • India invites Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to be Republic Day chief guest

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has extended an invite to the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on January 26. A chief guest for the parade is likely after two barren years.

    Gen El Sisi last visited India in 2016 but there have been several high-level visits. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Cairo last month and had handed over a “personal message’’ from PM Modi to Gen El-Sisi. This was the first visit to Egypt by an Indian EAM in seven years.

    However, this time it was underscored by joint-military exercises leading to top-level political engagement. Meanwhile, in July and August, the Indian Air Force and the Egyptian Air Force conducted various exercises at the Egyptian Fighter Weapons School, near Cairo.

    The combination of both air forces is similar, reflective of a significant period of history where both India and Egypt were the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), under the leadership of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Egypt’s second President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

    Both the IAF and EAF’s fighter fleets comprise a combination of imports, ranging from a variety of suppliers such as Russia, France, the US and the UK among others. From India’s point of view, an outreach to Egypt is part of its larger construct of its security architecture in West Asia, particularly the Gulf, spearheaded by New Delhi’s flourishing relations with the UAE that is arguably the most powerful leader in the region today. Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent.

    The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation mode and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in last ten years. In 2022, both the countries recorded the highest-ever bilateral trade of $7.26 billion, with items like crude petroleum, fertilizers, bovine meat, cotton yarn, etc. dominating the trade basket.

    Indian companies have also invested heavily in Egypt, to the tune of around $3.15 billion. President Sisi is a retired military officer who has served as the sixth and current President of Egypt since 2014. Before retiring as a general in the Egyptian military in 2014, Sisi served as Egypt’s deputy prime minister from 2013 to 2014, as its defence minister from 2012 to 2013, and as its director of military intelligence from 2010 to 2012. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in January 2014.

    NEW DELHI: India has extended an invite to the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on January 26. A chief guest for the parade is likely after two barren years.

    Gen El Sisi last visited India in 2016 but there have been several high-level visits. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Cairo last month and had handed over a “personal message’’ from PM Modi to Gen El-Sisi. This was the first visit to Egypt by an Indian EAM in seven years.

    However, this time it was underscored by joint-military exercises leading to top-level political engagement. Meanwhile, in July and August, the Indian Air Force and the Egyptian Air Force conducted various exercises at the Egyptian Fighter Weapons School, near Cairo.

    The combination of both air forces is similar, reflective of a significant period of history where both India and Egypt were the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), under the leadership of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Egypt’s second President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

    Both the IAF and EAF’s fighter fleets comprise a combination of imports, ranging from a variety of suppliers such as Russia, France, the US and the UK among others. From India’s point of view, an outreach to Egypt is part of its larger construct of its security architecture in West Asia, particularly the Gulf, spearheaded by New Delhi’s flourishing relations with the UAE that is arguably the most powerful leader in the region today. Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent.

    The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation mode and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in last ten years. In 2022, both the countries recorded the highest-ever bilateral trade of $7.26 billion, with items like crude petroleum, fertilizers, bovine meat, cotton yarn, etc. dominating the trade basket.

    Indian companies have also invested heavily in Egypt, to the tune of around $3.15 billion. President Sisi is a retired military officer who has served as the sixth and current President of Egypt since 2014. Before retiring as a general in the Egyptian military in 2014, Sisi served as Egypt’s deputy prime minister from 2013 to 2014, as its defence minister from 2012 to 2013, and as its director of military intelligence from 2010 to 2012. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in January 2014.

  • CM Hemant Soren launches “Petrol Subsidy Scheme” for BPL families

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on the occasion of Republic Day, launched the much talked about petrol subsidy scheme from Dumka, under which a subsidy of Rs 25 per litre of petrol will be credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

    Soren, on the second anniversary of his government, had announced that a subsidy of Rs 25 per litre of petrol for a maximum of up to 10 litres in a month will be given to the ration card holders. To avail the subsidy, one will have to register himself with the CM-SUPPORTS App, which has already been launched.

    According to Soren, nearly 1.4 lakh people have registered themselves for the scheme and the application of around 73,000 people has already been admitted.

    “I am happy to announce that from today onwards, a subsidy of Rs 250, with the rate of Rs 25 per litre for 10 litres of petrol, is being sent to the bank accounts of the poor and needy through CM-SUPPORT App. So far, nearly 1.4 lakh people have registered themselves under the scheme, and application of around 73000 people has already been admitted,” said the Chief Minister. 

    The subsidy will be credited to the account of 40,000 beneficiaries immediately after is scheme is launched, he added.

    To mark the occasion, Soren symbolically handed over a cheque of Rs 250 to five beneficiaries. With the launch of this scheme, the subsidy amount of Rs 250 will be deposited in the account of 58 thousand beneficiaries across the state today itself.

    Speaking on the occasion, Soren said the government has made efforts to provide employment and ensure the participation of common people in administration and development. More than 80 lakh workers of the unorganised sector have registered themselves on the government’s e-shram portal in the state.

    Stressing on the need to generate employment, he said that action has been taken to speed up the process of appointment to vacant posts in the state government which were pending for years. To provide maximum opportunities to the youth from Jharkhand in government jobs, it has been made mandatory to pass Classes 10 and 12 from a recognised institution in the state, besides knowing local language and customs, he said.

    Talking about education, the CM said that 80 model schools, 325 block-level leader schools and 4091 village-level model schools are being developed in the state. Around 72 crore has been approved for the construction of 20 model schools in Santhal Parganas. To ensure that education in COVID is not affected, the government has arranged for online education through the DG program.

  • WATCH| BSF, Pakistan Army exchange sweets and greetings at Wagah border on 73rd Republic Day

    By ANI

    AMRITSAR: In a goodwill gesture, Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Army exchanged sweets and greetings at the Attari-Wagah border on India’s 73rd Republic Day on Wednesday.

    #WATCH Border Security Force & Pakistan Rangers exchange sweets and greetings at JCP Attari on India’s 73rd Republic Day pic.twitter.com/nTD23Wf937
    — ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2022
    The officials of the BSF and Pak Rangers exchanged sweets and pleasantries.

    The exchange of sweets was suspended in the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic whereas earlier in 2018, the BSF skipped the tradition on January 26 over growing incidents of ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.

    Even in 2019, both border guarding forces of India and Pakistan did not exchange sweets and greetings on the occasion of Eid along the Attari-Wagah border as the Pakistan chose to skip the friendlier gesture at the border after the special status give to Jammu and Kashmir was revoked

    Similarly, after the surgical strike in October 2016, the BSF did not offer sweets to Pakistan Rangers. Because of the Covid pandemic, the flag lowering ceremony or Beating Retreat border ceremony have been suspended at Attari-Wagah border.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the fallen soldiers at the newly built National War Memorial (NWM) today morning in New Delhi, prior to participating in the 73rd Republic Day celebrations.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt, Defence Secretary, Ajay Kumar, and the Chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces, i.e, Army, Air Force, and Navy, were also present on this occasion.

    The Inter services Guards was formed by 7 Soldiers from each service. This year, the guards were commanded by a Naval Officer, Lt Cdr Amit Kumar Rathi. The Contingent commander was Sqn Ldr Akash Gangas.

    When the Prime Minister laid the wreath, the Inter services guards presented ‘Salami Shastra’ followed by ‘Shok Shastra’. Simultaneously, the buglers sounded the ‘Last Post’. Later, PM Modi and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade.

    The celebrations this year are special as Republic Day falls in the 75th year of Independence, being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ across the country. To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Defence has conceptualized a series of new events during the main parade on Rajpath on January 26 and the ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 29.

    It has been decided that the Republic Day celebrations will now be week-long from January 23-30 every year. This year, the celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and culminate on January, 30 which is observed as Martyrs’ Day.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Core objectives of Constitution remain unfulfilled: Mayawati on R-Day

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday greeted people on Republic Day, and said there was a need to introspect as to why justice and liberty, which were the core objectives of the Constitution, have remained unfulfilled.

    The BSP supremo also asked the government to be serious about reducing the huge gap between the poor and rich. In a tweet in Hindi, she said, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all Indians on Republic Day. The poor working people of the country are always committed to making the Constitution meaningful but the government must be serious and dedicated towards reducing the huge gap between the poor and rich by removing increasing poverty, unemployment and inflation.”

    The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked as to why the great objectives of justice, liberty and humanitarianism of the Constitution have remained unfulfilled even after 72 years of the Indian Constitution.

    “Ambedkar had made justice, liberty and humanitarianism as the core of the unique Constitution. Why has that humanitarian great objective remained unfulfilled even after 72 years. For this, instead of blame, an honest self reflection is necessary,” she said.

  • Masked, vaccinated, socially distanced: Only 5,000 people attend Republic Day parade

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Crowds at the Republic Day parade on Wednesday were curtailed to just 5,000 people, all double masked, vaccinated and maintaining strict ‘do gaz ki doori’ in view of the Covid situation.

    Only double vaccinated adults and children above the age of 15 who have taken at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were allowed to enter the venue.

    Children below 15 years were not permitted to attend.

    There was strict security with personnel maintaining strict vigil.

    Chairs were placed at a distance to ensure social distancing.

    Participants also received a white cap with “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” printed on it.

    India is presently battling the third wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant.

    India logged 2,85,914 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,00,85,116, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

  • Republic Day parade will be a mix of modern and vintage with smaller marching contingents

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Keeping in mind the fast infections of the new variant of the COVID 19, the strength of the marching contingents on the Republic Day have been reduced this year.

    Briefing the media persons in virtual formation, Chief of Staff of the Delhi Area and deputy parade commander Lt Gen Alok Kakkar said, “The troops will be marching in 12 rows and 8 columns.” Earlier the contingents used to have a strength of 144 personnel.

    Also, this time a total of 6 marching contingents from the Indian Army will be participating on the occasion of 73rd Republic Day parade celebrations on January 26. The contingents will be wearing uniforms depicting the change in it since independence and also will carry the weapons of those times.

    The first contingent to march forward will be of Rajput Regiment, wearing the uniform of 1950 and carrying .303 rifle, followed by Assam Regiment, donning the dress of 1960s. Then, the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry troops will be attired in the 1970s uniform with 7.62 mm self-loaded rifle.

    The personnel of the Sikh Light Infantry and Army Ordnance Corps would be wearing the current uniform and would be carrying a 5.56mm rifle.

    The newly-inducted combat uniform will be donned by the Parachute Regiment contingent. The troops will be carrying Israel-origin Tavor rifles.

    Major Vishesh, Parachute Regiment’s contingent commander said, “Wearing the new combat uniform at the Republic Day parade will be a proud moment for the elite force,”.

    Major Varun Pratap Singh will lead the Rajput Regiment contingent. “It’s an honour for us to participate in the Republic Day parade.” He spoke.

    This time the parade will display a unique mix of vintage and new equipment in the mechanised column.

    Among the Armoured columns the first column will be of one PT-76, one centurion tank, two Main Battle Tank Arjun MK-1 tanks, one APC Topas armoured personnel carrier, one BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle and two BMP-II infantry fighting vehicles will be shown to the public.

    One 75/24 pack howitzer, two Dhanush howitzers, one PMS bridge-laying system, two Sarvatra bridge-laying systems, one HT-16 electronic warfare system, two Taran Shakti electronic warfare system, one Tiger Cat missile system and two Akash missile systems will also be the part of the mechanised columns.

    Besides, one each marching contingent of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will be participating. There would be a total of 16 marching contingents, including four CAPF contingents, two NCC, one each Delhi Police and NSS.

    There will be two motorcycle display teams and two animal contingents. The motorcycle team will be from the BSF and ITBP while the animal contingents would be from 61 Cavalry and BSF camels.

    Maj Gen Kakkar added that two new events have been added in the Beating the retreat ceremony this year.

    There would be laser mapping protection on the north and south blocks of the Raisina Hills and a coordinated show of 1000 drones. They will display various shapes when it is dark at Vijay Chowk. It will be held for the first time in India.

  • Ex-Puducherry CM Narayanasamy flays Centre for excluding tableau on Narayana Guru in Republic Day celebrations

    By PTI

    PUDUCHERRY: Senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy has flayed the Centre for denying permission for display of tableau on social reformer Narayana Guru in the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations in the capital.

    Addressing reporters on Monday through virtual mode, Narayanasamy, who is in home isolation now following coronavirus infection, noted that Narayana Guru was a great social reformer and the Kerala government had appropriately sought display of the float on social thinker and champion of casteless society in the Republic Day celebration.

    “It is however a matter of concern that the Centre had denied permission for the display of the float on Narayana Guru in the Republic Day parade. The central government should reconsider its decision and let the float be displayed,” he said.

    The former Chief Minister hit out at the Centre for refusing permission to the Tamil Nadu government to have the tableau on the veteran freedom fighters V O Chidambaram (Kappalottia Tamizhan), the national poet Subramania Bharathi and Queen Velu Natchiar displayed in the ceremonial function in the capital.

    The previous Congress-DMK coalition government headed by him in Puducherry had also sought permission for display of the Puducherry’s tableau on Aurobindo, poet Bharathiar and also to highlight a few other landmarks of Puducherry, he recalled.

    “We attempted thrice and sent the designs and models of the tableau to the Centre for approval for its inclusion in Republic Day. But the representation was rejected,” he added.

    Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leaders of ‘indulging in double speak’, the Congress veteran said, “Whenever the Prime Minister visits Puducherry or Tamil Nadu he would not fail to quote the verses of Tamil poet Bharathiar. But the tableau on the poet along with Aurobindo and a few other landmarks of Puducherry has been rejected.”

    Narayanasamy also alleged that the territorial administration had let large gatherings and crowds at such events like celebration of New Year eve on night of December 31, leading to ‘rapid spread of the coronavirus’ in Puducherry.

  • 5 Rafale, 70 other aircraft to feature in ‘grandest flypast ever’ on R-Day

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Republic Day parade this year will showcase 75 aircraft as part of the flypast over the Rajpath with the Supreme Commander President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute from the marching contingents.

    The culmination of the flypast will be with the “Amrit Formation” in which for the first time, 17 Jaguar fighters will fly in the shape of 75, to celebrate Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav. Speaking online to media, IAF’s Western Air Command PRO Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said, “The grandest flypast ever will take place over Rajpath during the Republic Day parade with 75 aircraft including the planes from IAF, Army, and the Navy. This is in line with the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav celebrations.” 

    Newly-inducted Omni role combat aircraft Rafale will be showcasing its manoeuvers in three formations — Vinash, Baaz, and Vijay. While a total of five Rafale would take off from Ambala airbase to flypast over the Rajpath in Vinash formation, the other two formations will include one Rafale.

    Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier fighter jets — MiG-29K and surveillance aircraft P-8I — will participate in the Varuna formation.

    ALSO READ | Republic Day parade to see 24,000 people in attendance, foreign dignitary as chief guest unlikely

    Of the total of 75 aircraft of the three forces, there will be 28 helicopters including 8 Mi-17s, 14 ALH, 1 Mi-35, 4 Apache and 1 Chinook (transport). Among the eight aircraft in the transport category, one vintage aircraft Dakota, two Dornier 228, three C-130, one P-8I, and one AEW&C will be participating.  

    There will be a total of 39 fighter aircraft flying past — 19 Jaguar, seven Rafale, seven Sukhoi, four MiG-29, and two MiG-29K.

    Of the multiple formations flying on display — Tangail and Meghna formations will be dedicated to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan during the 1971 war and liberation of Bangladesh.

    Meghna Formation, consisting of one Chinook and four Mi-IV, and Tangail formation which will consist of one Dakota flanked by two Dornier 228 will be in the memory of the successful Tangail airdrop of the Indian Army’s second Parachute Battalion at Tangail, in erstwhile East Pakistan on December 11, 1971.

    The battalion group under the command of Lt Col Kulwant Singh Pannu along with an Artillery Battery of 17 Parachute Field Regiment, platoon of 411 (Independent) Parachute Field Company, medical detachment, surgical team, and other administrative troops from the Shatrujeet Brigade was airdropped and tasked to cut off the retreat of the Pakistani troops from the north towards Dhaka.

  • 75 aircraft including 5 Rafale to feature in ‘grandest flypast ever’ during R-Day celebration

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: As a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commemorating 75 years of India’s independence, the “grandest flypast ever” with 75 aircraft will take place over Rajpath in Delhi during Republic Day celebrations, said Air Force PRO Wing Commander Indranil Nandi on Monday.

    These 75 aircraft will also include five Rafale.

    “The grandest flypast ever to take place over Rajpath during the Republic Day parade with 75 aircraft including the planes from IAF, Army, and the Navy. This is in line with the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations,” the IAF public relations officer (PRO) said.

    “Five Rafale to fly over the Rajpath in the Vinaash formation,” he added.

    17 Jaguar fighter aircraft will fly in the shape of ’75’ to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

    Navy’s MiG29K and P-8I surveillance aircraft will also fly in the Varuna formation, the PRO informed.

    India will celebrate its 73rd Republic Day on January 26 this year, honouring the historic date when the country completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after the Constitution came into effect. As part of the celebrations, an annual Republic Day parade is held in Delhi’s Rajpath.

    Meanwhile, a contingent of five Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, who will be chief guests for Republic Day 2022 celebrations, has arrived in Delhi to participate in the event. (ANI)