Thousands gathered in New Delhi amid tight security yesterday for India’s annual Republic Day parade, a pomp-filled spectacle of military might featuring camels and daredevil stunt riders, with French President Francois Hollande the chief guest.
A contingent of French infantry in India for joint military exercises led the march down the capital’s central Rajpath Avenue, the first time foreign forces have ever taken part in the parade.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Hollande as chief guest in a show of solidarity with France after militant attacks in Paris in November killed 130 — recalling a 2008 assault on Mumbai that killed 166.
Photo: AFP
The two leaders agreed in talks on Monday to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks and a deadly siege this month on an Indian air force base near the Pakistan border.
The mood yesterday was more celebratory, with Modi — sporting a gold turban that rivaled the spectacular military headgear on display — and Hollande chatting as they sat side by side in a bulletproof glass enclosure.
An estimated 10,000 spectators braved thick smog and air quality levels classified as hazardous on the US embassy Web site to watch the display.
Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital and levels of PM2.5 frequently reach 10 times the WHO’s safe limit.
However, the skies remained dry, unlike last year when chief guest US President Barack Obama was forced to shelter under an umbrella throughout.
The mounted camels of the Border Security Force — an annual highlight — put in an early showing, decorated in brightly colored caparisons.
A dog squad drawn from the army’s Remount Veterinary Corps returned to the parade after a gap of 26 years to perform a march wearing striped coats in their unit’s colors.
They were followed by motorbike stunt riders performing a human pyramid, another annual tradition.
India launched a nationwide security crackdown in the lead-up to the celebrations, making a string of arrests.
About 50,000 police, army and paramilitary forces were deployed across the capital yesterday.
Hollande was to meet later yesterday the head of the opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, before ending a three-day official visit that began in the northern city of Chandigarh.
His visit had raised hopes of a conclusion to a long-delayed, multibillion-dollar deal for New Delhi to buy 36 French Rafale jet fighters.
However, the two sides said they had not yet arrived at an agreement on the price, which experts estimate could reach about 5 billion euros (US$5.6 billion).
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