Top EU leaders witness India's grand Republic Day parade
New Delhi (PTI): Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, the two top leaders of the 27-nation European Union, on Monday watched India's 77th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Kartavya Path, joining a select group of global leaders to have graced the nation's biggest ceremonial event in last several decades.
European Council President Costa and European Commission President von der Leyen witnessed the grand military parade and the cultural performances along with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Union Cabinet, foreign diplomats and a host of other dignitaries.
It was the first time that two top leaders of the European Union (EU) attended India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guests.
Costa and von der Leyen, accompanied by a high-powered delegation, will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
A small EU military contingent also participated in the Republic Day parade.
At the parade, India displayed its military might that included elite marching contingents, missiles and indigenous weapon systems.
Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.
Last year, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Republic Day chief guest while French President Emmanuel Macron graced the occasion in 2024. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Republic Day chief guest in 2023.
There was no Republic Day chief guest in 2021 and 2022 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
In 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, while in 2018, leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries attended the celebrations.
In 2017, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at celebrations, while then French President Francois Hollande graced the occasion in 2016.
In 2015, then US President Barack Obama watched the parade as the chief guest. The previous year, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations, while Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck attended the parade in 2013.
The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations also include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.
The then British Prime Minister John Major had attended the celebrations in 1993, Nelson Mandela participated as the then South African President in 1995, while South Korean President Lee Myung Bak witnessed the parade in 2010.
In 2008, Sarkozy participated in the celebrations as French President, while another French President, Jacques Chirac, graced the occasion in 1998.
Other world leaders who have attended the celebrations include Nepal's King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1999, Iran's the then President Mohammed Khatami in 2003, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011 and the President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1991.
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Republic Day: Kerala Guv says Centre, states not enemies, should work together for Viksit Bharat
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Monday said Centre and states were not enemies and that they should working jointly for the country's development.
He unfurled the national flag to mark the 77th Republic Day celebrations at the Central Stadium here.
Later, inspecting the parade, the Governor received the salute from various police and armed forces contingents.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state ministers also attended the event.
In his speech after the parade, Arlekar said the Centre and the states were not enemies and must work unitedly.
He said that in a parliamentary form of democracy, it does not mean that the Centre and the states should function in opposing roles.
"We are not enemies — neither the Centre nor the states. Everyone has to follow the path of coming together, hand in hand, for the progress of this country. Only then can we achieve Viksit Bharat (developed India)," Arlekar said.
He said coordinated efforts were required to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
"The aim of achieving Viksit Bharat can be realised only through Viksit Kerala," he said.
He also congratulated the recipients of the Padma awards and remembered former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
"Achuthanandan created a legacy not only in the political field but also in the social sphere," Arlekar said.
He appealed to the people of Kerala to actively participate in the upcoming Assembly elections and exercise their franchise.
"Let us show that Kerala is moving towards 100 per cent voting this time. Voting is not just a privilege and a duty, but also a right" he said.
Earlier, in his Republic Day message, the governor called upon citizens to commit themselves to the goal of Viksit Bharat and highlighted the enduring significance of Vande Mataram as a symbol of national integration and inspiration.
Arlekar said India's performance as a nation was rooted in its ethos and traditions, adding that the country is the world's oldest democracy. It is regarded as the "mother of democracy".
"That is why the world is watching India's performance," he said, adding that the nation has great expectations from the next generation and future leaders.
India was moving ahead without obstacles and emerging as a global leader in several fields, he said, while stressing that the past should not be forgotten.
"This democratic form of governance has been achieved by the people themselves. As stated in our Constitution — ‘We, the People’ — we dedicate the Constitution to ourselves," he said.
He said India had never envisioned itself as a theocratic nation and had declared that every religion, belief and path would be respected and allowed to flourish, calling it the beauty of India's cultural democracy.
Referring to economic growth, Arlekar said it was often argued that democracies could not grow as fast as other systems, but India had disproved that notion.
"For many years now, we have shown that even as a democracy, we can grow economically at a high pace. We are the fastest-growing major economy in the world and will become a developed nation in the near future," he said.
He said this achievement was not an overnight miracle but the result of sustained contributions by the people towards economic and social progress, adding that the nation was grateful to all its people.
Speaking about Kerala, the Governor said the state was indebted to its earlier generations of leaders and reformers who laid a strong cultural foundation. He said Kerala had always been considered a leader in dharma, culture and modern fields such as education, healthcare and social reform.
He said Kerala had led the country in several areas, including digitalisation, and that the state government's digitisation efforts had yielded positive results.
"Our tradition and modernisation have come together to strengthen our economy and society. Kerala has once again shown the way in agriculture, industry and educational reforms," he said.
Noting that Kerala is a 100 per cent literate state, Arlekar said the state should continue to lead in this field while striving for excellence in other sectors.
Recalling the national song Vande Mataram, the Governor said it had been deeply ingrained in the minds and hearts of the people and had inspired generations in the freedom struggle. He noted that the song is completing 150 years this year.
"Let us celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram with great joy, as it has always guided and inspired us," he said.
Meanwhile, the Republic Day parade was led by first-in-command Wing Commander Vikas Vasisht of the Indian Air Force and second-in-command Captain Abhishek Dube of the Indian Army.
Platoons from the Indian Army's Madras Regiment Battalion, Indian Air Force, Malabar Special Armed Police, India Reserve Battalion, Kerala Women Police, Rapid Response and Rescue Team, Thiruvananthapuram City Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Excise and Forest departments, Sainik School, NCC cadets, National Service Scheme volunteers, Students Police Cadets, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and Aswarooda Sena took part in the parade.
