The marching contingent was drawn from the French Foreign Legion, a well-known and unique corps comprising approximately 10,000 men from around the world, including India.
For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent took part in the country’s biggest ceremonial event. French President Emmanuel Macron attends as chief guest.
This is the second time France has participated in India's Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, French troops became the first foreign military contingent to take part in the event.
President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day also said the ‘democratic system in India is much older than the concept of Western democracy'.
It is obscene that a man so detached from India should occupy such a powerful position in a party that governed India for most of its republican history.
About 300 employees had called in sick Wednesday, allegedly in protest against mismanagement of airlines. Remaining staff given ultimatum to rejoin work by end of Thursday.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
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