ProMASS News Bureau: Jan 26, 2016:
Nation celebrates its 67th Republic Day on Tuesday. In Delhi, the main function was held at Rajpath where President Pranab Mukherjee took salute of the parade.
Security across the country has been tightened. Security agencies are on a high alert leaving no stone unturned. French President Francois Hollance who is on a three day India visit was the chief guest of this year’s Republic Day celebration at Rajpath. Tableaux from 17 States and 06 Central Ministries and Departments presented the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. Although the services of Delhi Metro will be available throughout the day… the entrance and exit at Patel Chowk and Race course will be closed from 8.45 am to 12.30 pm.
Also, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan stations will be shut from morning 6am to 12 Noon. Metro premises will also have high security. The Red Fort premise is set to witness the ‘Bharat Parv’ festival from Tuesday as part of the Republic Day celebrations. The festival organised is set to showcase the cuisine and culture of different states of India. The ‘Bharat Parv’ festival will be held from January 26 to January 29.The highlights of the event include performances by the Armed Forces Bands (static and moving) along with cultural performances from different regions of the country.
Along with a display of Republic Day Parade tableaux, the event will feature a food festival and a crafts mela. The festival will be open to the public from 5 PM to 9 PM on 26 January and from 12 noon to 9 PM on the 27, 28 and 29 January. In view of Republic Day celebrations, security has been tightened in and around Mumbai. Security cover has been increased at historical buildings, government and non-govt. offices, shopping malls, metro stations and airports. Security checks at entry and exit points of the city are in place. Barricades have been placed at various spots to screen vehicles entering Srinagar. Security arrangements at the venue of the celebrations – Bakshi Stadium – are particularly strict. In Jammu, police officers in plain clothes will keep an eye on the movement of suspicious individuals.
The North-East too is witnessing heightened levels of alert. Security forces are fully prepared to deal with any untoward incident in Manipur’s capital Imphal. Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat and Punjab and other states are also under high security cover. In view of the recent Pathankot attack and the arrest of a dozen terrorists, unprecedented security is being maintained across the country. Republic Day is the most important day for the country; it is a big challenge for the security agencies to ensure that the celebrations are concluded without any untoward incident.
The highlights of this year’s Parade will be, for the first time in the history of Republic Day Parade, a 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band consisting of 48 musicians will march on Rajpath and present the ceremonial salute to the President. The French Army contingent will be led by Lt Col Paul Bury. This is the first occasion when foreign troops are participating in the march past during Republic Day celebrations. Earlier, Indian troops had participated in the Bastille Day celebrations in France in 2009.
President Pranab Mukherjee has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 112 persons. The list comprises of 10 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 83 Padma Shri Awardees. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons in the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs (include one posthumous) and 4 posthumous awardees. President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the award of one Ashok Chakra, two Kirti Chakras and eight Shaurya Chakras to the Indian Army personnel. The Navy got four gallantry awards while the Indian Air Force got two.
Elite commando of Army’s Special Forces Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami has been awarded Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peace time gallantary honour, for laying down his life while saving his two colleagues during an encounter with militants in Kashmir last year. Sepoy Jagdish Chand, who grappled with a terrorist and killed him before being shot down during the Pathankot Air air base attack this month will be honoured with the Kirti Chakra posthumously. This time Doordarshan has made special arrangements and strategies for the successful coverage of the republic day parade. In order to make the broadcast really good 27 HD cameras have been installed on India gate, Rajpath and Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s house). Last year 24 cameras were used for the coverage. This time cameras have also been installed on 2 hydrolic crains.
Due to 80 feet height of these crains, we will be getting a grand view of Rajpath full of grandeur and splendor. On the other side DD news will be broadcasting the program in sign language so that people who have hearing disabilities may also feel the grandeur and understand the importance of the celebration. Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has requested all the private channels to broadcast the signals of DD news. It will also broadcast some special programs on the occasion of Republic Day celebration.
President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the nation on the eve of 67th Republic Day.
He has termed the menace of terror spreading across the world as cancer. He said the country must attempt to resolve the complex edges of its emotional and geo-political inheritance with neighbours through a peaceful dialogue. The President also touched upon the issue of dialogue with Pakistan, pointing out that terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. The President not only praised India’s democracy, constitution and its armed forces in his republic day eve address but also brought out the journey of India’s economic progress. He also stressed on the need to foster an ecosystem to enable the fourth industrial revolution and better education as well as respect for women.
