R-Day: India showcases military might
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was guest of honour on Saturday at country’s 58th Republic Day parade as New Delhi showcased its latest military hardware including nuclear-capable missiles.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: French President Nicolas Sarkozy was guest of honour on Saturday at country’s 58th Republic Day parade as New Delhi showcased its latest military hardware including nuclear-capable missiles.
Soldiers marched down the Rajpath to the sound of military bagpipes as the first woman President Pratibha Patil gazed on from behind the bullet-proof glass.
Tight security surrounded the annual parade, which highlights India's military might, technological prowess and cultural diversity and marks its proclamation as a republic in 1950 - three years after it won independence from British rule.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the elite National Security Guards have been deployed at various locations while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a tight vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade.
Around 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across the capital with commandos of the ITBP and Delhi Police positioned at strategic locations. Snipers were deployed at all high-rises along the parade route.
A multi-layer security ring was put in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil unfurled the tricolour and took the salute of marching contingents.
Sarkozy, who jetted into New Delhi early on Friday, smiled with evident enjoyment as he watched the colourful parade in bright winter sunshine.
India rolled out its military hardware - most of it Russian in origin as Moscow is still India's biggest military supplier - followed by marching bands.
India is the biggest arms buyer among emerging nations amid estimates it could spend up to 50 billion dollars until 2018 to upgrade its 1.23-million strong military.
Earlier, President Pratibha Patil, in a speech on the eve of Republic Day, had highlighted India's new-found economic muscle on the back of a blistering nine-percent growth rate, and sought closer ties with the international community.
"The impressive strides of the Indian economy have resulted in the emergence of India as a powerful player in the global economy," the 72-year-old President said.
Patil also said New Delhi would not tolerate armed insurgencies on its soil.
"The continuing terrorist attacks are reminders of the need to take collective action," she said as troops manned sandbagged posts on New Delhi intersections for the annual military extravaganza.
Soldiers marched down the Rajpath to the sound of military bagpipes as the first woman President Pratibha Patil gazed on from behind the bullet-proof glass.
Tight security surrounded the annual parade, which highlights India's military might, technological prowess and cultural diversity and marks its proclamation as a republic in 1950 - three years after it won independence from British rule.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the elite National Security Guards have been deployed at various locations while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a tight vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade.
Around 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across the capital with commandos of the ITBP and Delhi Police positioned at strategic locations. Snipers were deployed at all high-rises along the parade route.
A multi-layer security ring was put in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil unfurled the tricolour and took the salute of marching contingents.
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Sarkozy, who jetted into New Delhi early on Friday, smiled with evident enjoyment as he watched the colourful parade in bright winter sunshine.
India rolled out its military hardware - most of it Russian in origin as Moscow is still India's biggest military supplier - followed by marching bands.
India is the biggest arms buyer among emerging nations amid estimates it could spend up to 50 billion dollars until 2018 to upgrade its 1.23-million strong military.
Earlier, President Pratibha Patil, in a speech on the eve of Republic Day, had highlighted India's new-found economic muscle on the back of a blistering nine-percent growth rate, and sought closer ties with the international community.
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"The impressive strides of the Indian economy have resulted in the emergence of India as a powerful player in the global economy," the 72-year-old President said.
Patil also said New Delhi would not tolerate armed insurgencies on its soil.
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"The continuing terrorist attacks are reminders of the need to take collective action," she said as troops manned sandbagged posts on New Delhi intersections for the annual military extravaganza.
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