India celebrates Republic Day amid tight security

Amid tight security in restive regions like Kashmir and the northeastern states, over 1.1 billion population in India celebrated 58th Republic Day with parades showcasing India's military might and cultural and ethnic diversity in the nation's capital and various cities across the country, Friday, January 26, 2007.

Russian President Vladimir Putin who joined Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Abdul Kalam as the guest of honor for this year's celebrations in New Delhi was amazed by the show put up, saying, "India's Republic Day Parade – I simply loved it!"

Sharing his thoughts and experiences in his Republic Day address to the nation, this year, President Kalam highlighted the commendable advances India had achieved in all important sectors. The President said that India, as a nation, was undergoing a transformation, all at a time.

"Our Gross Domestic Product which stands at US$ 729 billion is poised to grow at 10 percent annually which along with various other concurrent actions, will enhance the welfare of farmers, workers, professionals and unleash creativity of entrepreneurs, business persons, scientists, engineers and all other constituents of society," said President Kalam.

Pointing out that the number of people living below poverty line fell to 22 percent, whereas the literacy rate neared 75 percent, President Kalam said that if everyone performed "in an integrated way with development politics as the focus, in mission mode with transparency," "before the year 2020…a prosperous India is possible."

With a youth population of 540 million, President Kalam highlighted the need to build a knowledge society through creating a global human resources cadre of skilled youth and youth with higher education.

The President also called upon the youth for a wholehearted participation in politics. For this, the president emphasised on including Political Science, with focus on development politics, as a part of the school curriculum from secondary to college level.

In his concluding remark, the President called upon all the Indians, at home and abroad, to participate in nation building and to face challenges with courage. "The attitude of giving by every citizen and each group will definitely be an enriching factor for the whole nation leading to an accelerated development process," he said.

Visibly smitten by the colourful parade, Russian President Putin spoke warmly about India as "a growing country with brilliant prospects" and cultural and spiritual kinship between the two countries that "go back to the times of sage Zarathushtra."

"We also plan to coordinate our activities in the international sphere," Putin said, indicating a convergence of interests between the two nations on major international issues like the Iranian nuclear impasse, peace and stability in Afghanistan and Central Asia, the violence in Iraq and the Middle East peace process.

President Putin was upbeat about the prospects of enhanced bilateral cooperation in the crucial area of civilian nuclear cooperation and in other areas of energy security after the two countries signed nine agreements in areas ranging from energy and space and commerce to high technologies.

According to political analysts, Putin's presence at India's celebration of its 58th Republic Day was seen as the symbolic highlight of his two–day visit aimed at revitalising ties between Russia and India in the face of New Delhi's increasing US partnership.

On his part, Prime Minister Singh hailed Putin as a "special friend of India."

Russia "remains indispensable to the core of India's foreign policy interests" though there has been a sea–change in the international situation during the last decade, Prime Minister Singh said.

Incidentally, much of the weapons and military equipment displayed during the parade were either of Russian origin or developed jointly with Russia, which is India's biggest military supplier.

Also present on the occasion were Congress president Sonia Gandhi, opposition leader L.K. Advani as well as several ministers, bureaucrats and the diplomatic community.

According to many, this Republic Day was special as India deviated from the protocol, permitting Malaysia's young prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, the first ever foreigner to command an army unit during the parade.

Decked in traditional cavalry regalia, Tunku Ismail, 23, grandson of the Johor Sultan, who was promoted to captain last December, rode his horse steadily leading India's Jaipur–based 61st Cavalry Regiment, as President Kalam saluted from the dais.

The 61st unit is the only non–ceremonial horse–mounted cavalry in the world. Tunku Ismail, who joined the Indian Military Academy, a prestigious military training academy, in 2003, was given the honour by Abdul Kalam to lead the unit with some 400 men.

The parade stretched more than 10 km. along the Rajpath, near the administrative centre, and headed towards the landmark India Gate, watched by thousands of local and foreign dignitaries.

Traditional folk dances by people from various states dressed in traditional attires, colourful floats and Buddhist monks chanting mantras dotting the long parade clearly mirrored how the nation's old customs and traditions still thrived in the post–modern India.

While on the ground, India's armed forces wowed the spectators by rolling out the Brahmos Supersonic cruise missiles, T–72 tanks, Pinaka multi–barrel rocket launchers, tactical control reporter radars and bridge–laying tanks, up in the sky, India showed off its prowess with MIG 29s and Sukhoi jets putting up an aerial acrobatic show.

Ski troops, camel dessert patrol units and girl cadets also joined the parade that lasted almost two hours.

However, India's Republic Day celebrations were marred by sporadic violence that erupted in some regions which are being threatened to be engulfed in political crisis over recent years.

Though, in Kashmir, militants called for a general strike on Friday, crippling normal life in the scenic valley, yet, in winter capital Jammu where the official celebrations took place, however, saw a huge gathering, including women and children.

In Assam, just before midnight, as Delhi was preparing to celebrate, serial bombings killed two and injured five others.

However, people in the restive northeast states of Assam, Manipur and Tripura defied calls of boycott of the Republic Day by separatist guerrillas.

"It is heartening to find people coming to attend the Republic Day functions across the region despite boycott calls," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had remarked.

Officials said public and private vehicles were plying normally with people in large numbers attending the national day celebrations in all the three states.

In Orissa, however, violence marred the celebrations as a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper died and and another injured as Maoists triggered a mine blast.

Other Maoist–violence hit states such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh were incident–free.

In Delhi, the Indian government beefed up security and about 15,000 security personnel plus 400 police commandos were deployed.

Security was tight at airports, railway stations, embassies and tourist spots across the city.

On Thursday, New Delhi police said they arrested a suspected militant carrying more than two kilograms of explosives.

Security was also beefed up along the porous India–Nepal border, which police say has been used for Pakistan and Bangladesh–based militants to enter the country.

In Chhattisgarh, epicentre of a Maoist insurgency in India, about 10,000 paramilitary personnel were deployed in the worst–hit Bastar region.

India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh and the highly industrialised Maharashtra also saw a peaceful Republic Day. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala celebrated the special day without any incidence of violence.

West Bengal saw the biggest Republic Day function after Delhi.

India's Republic Day commemorate India's adoption of its democratic constitution, just three years after gaining independence from British rule in 1947.