11:39 BSF’s women daredevils debut at R-Day parade:
Daredevil women from the Border Security Force stunned spectators at the Rajpath, performing daring stunts at the Republic Day parade for the first time.
President Ram Nath Kovind was all smiles as he applauded the personnel, while politician, including Amit Shah and Smriti Irani, could be seen standing in applause.
The 27-member BSF women daredevils drew huge cheers as they showcased their stunts and acrobatics on their 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles.
In 2015, women contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force had made debut in the national parade. The all-woman daredevil bikers squad was raised by the country’s largest border guarding force last year, on the lines of their much-acclaimed male counterparts. As per the tradition of the Republic Day parade, the BSF and the Army’s bike-borne daredevils, alternatively every year, end the parade riding their roaring bikes.
11:30 Rahul attends R-Day Parade: Congress president Rahul Gandhi attended the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath , a day after the party complained that its leader was relegated to a seat in the fourth row.
Gandhi was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.
A Congress leader had yesterday alleged that by not allocating a seat to the Congress president in the front row, the Modi government was resorting to “cheap politics”. Congress sources said the party president had always been seated in the front row since Independence.
— PTI
11:13 BSF to not exchange sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Republic Day:
The Border Security Force refused to exchange sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts the Pakistan Rangers, on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day.
The move by the BSF came following the heightened tension between both countries along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir due to repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces leading to killing of soldiers and civilians on the Indian side.
Tension continues to prevail along the IB and LoC for the past few months due to repeated ceasefire violations.
BSF sources said it was conveyed to the Pakistan Rangers on Thursday that no sweets will be exchanged on Republic Day.
10:39 A contingent like no other… : The Camel Contingent of the BSF trots down Rajpath. The only band of its kind in the world plays Hum Hai Seema Suraksha Bal’. The camel-mounted troops have been instrumental in successfully tracking down notorious smugglers extremists in Rajasthan Gujarat frontiers. Their motto — Duty unto Death.
10:33 Google celebrates India’s 69th Republic Day:
Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the 69th Republic Day of India. Republic Day is celebrated to mark the day when India formally adopted the constitution and became an independent republic. The main celebration of Republic Day involves a parade in the national capital which starts from the iconic India Gate and carries on along the Rajpath. The parade includes marching contingents, various tableaux and performances showcasing the different cultures of the country. This year’s parade will feature tableaux from 14 states and union territories, and nine central ministries.
India adopted the constitution on November 26, 1949, which came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the country’s first Republic Day.
In a first, the parade will see 10 chief guests – the leaders of all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. In another first, the ASEAN flag will also be flown during the parade.
Apart from the tableaux from various states and union territories, a major attraction of the parade is the armed forces contingents. The marching contingents aside, several aircraft, military vehicles, and weapons are displayed during the parade. The aircraft also perform a flypast, involving different formations.
10:18 Visuals of the ASEAN flag bearer contingent at the Republic Day parade. Flags being carried by a contingent of the Rajputana Rifles regiment.
Photograph: ANI/Twitter
10:10 President hands over Ashok Chakra to IAF Garud commando’s kin: President Ram Nath Kovind bestows the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime military decoration, the the family of Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, an Indian Air Force Garud commando who laid down his life while gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Corporal Nirala was part of a Garud Special Forces Unit, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under aegis of ‘Op Rakshak’ in Jammu-Kashmir.
On November 18, 2017, based on specific intelligence, an offensive was launched in Chanderger village of Bandipora district in J-K.
The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the suspected terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush.
“Corporal Nirala, displaying exceptional battle craft, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, thus cutting off all possibilities of an escape by the terrorists.
“Laying the ambush at such close quarters demanded a very high degree of courage and professional acumen,” a statement by the defence ministry said.
While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists hiding in the house, rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the Garuds.
“Corporal Nirala, disregarding personal safety and displaying indomitable courage, retaliated with effective lethal fire and gunned down two category A terrorists and injured two others,” the statement said.
In this violent exchange of fire, Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, the Corporal continued retaliatory fire.
Subsequently, he succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds received in the fierce encounter, which resulted in the killing of all six dreaded terrorists, the statement said.
Crpl Nirala exhibited most conspicuous gallantry in fighting with terrorists and made supreme sacrifice,” it said.
09:48 PM Modi welcomes ASEAN leaders at R-Day Parade:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes the Asean leaders at the Republic Day parade.
The 10 Asean leaders will the chief guests at the 69th Republic Day parade.
As per the protocol worked out, the first to arrive will be the prime minister of Brunei and the last to reach will be the Thai king.
Image: Modi welcomes Myanmar’s Aung San Suu-Kyi.
09:43 Interesting tidbit from ANI’s Smita Prakash: President Kovind leaves from Rashtrapati Bhavan escorted by 46 Bodyguards on magnificent Bay and Dark Bay coloured mounts. Raised in 1773, the President’s Bodyguard is the oldest surviving mounted unit and the senior most regiment of the Indian Army.
09:33 On R-Day, PM Modi pays tribute to the fallen soldiers:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to the soldiers at the Amar Jawan Jyoti ahead of the Republic Day parade.
Accompanying him are the three service chiefs — army, navy and air force — and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
After the PM lays a wreath, the buglers sound the Last Post’ and a 2 minute silence is observed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.
The Eternal flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti honours every unknown soldier who sacrificed his life in wars. It was erected in December, 1971, inaugurated by PM Indira Gandhi in 1979
08:51 PM Modi greets countrymen on 69th Republic Day:
As the country geared up for the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted citizens on the occasion.
“Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind (sic),” Modi said in a tweet.
India will be showcasing its military prowess, culture and diversity in the presence of leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations who will attend the event at the Rajpath as chief guests.
There will be a march past by the army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag at the Republic Day parade, where 23 tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio among others, will roll down the Rajpath.
The city has been wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket with thousands of security personnel keeping a hawk-eyed vigil to prevent any terror strike or untoward incident during the celebrations.
— PTI
Image: Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus illuminated on the eve of Republic day. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo
08:39 BJP Chief Amit Shah unfurls tricolour at party HQ in Delhi. Photograph: ANI/Twitter
Mobile internet services have been snapped in Kashmir as a precautionary measure on the occasion of the Republic Day, officials said today.
The internet services on mobile phones and data cards were suspended yesterday as part of the security drill of the Republic Day.
Although, it’s a normal practice in Kashmir to suspend the internet services on the Republic Day and Independence Day, this is the first time that these services were withdrawn a day earlier.
Security forces have been deployed in strength at strategic locations in the city.
The law enforcing agencies are carrying out random frisking and searches of vehicles entering the city.
This year the main Republic Day function will be held at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium instead of the regular venue — Bakshi Stadium.
— PTI
07:58 ASEAN leaders as chief guests, 100-foot wide stage for R-Day parade:
As India celebrates its 69th Republic Day today, for the first time, 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN will be the chief guests at the ceremonial parade, held at Rajpath, in the heart of national capital Delhi.
To accommodate the 10 heads of state, the stage that will be enclosed by bullet-proof glass will be 100 feet wide, three times bigger than what it was last year. There’s unprecedented security in Delhi; mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters have been deployed to keep a watch on the eight-km-long parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort.
The parade will be presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers, top leaders from political parties and senior officials will attend the event.
The foreign guests would go to Rashtrapati Bhavan first from where the cars carrying the heads of state and their spouses will start rolling down the Raisina Hill at 9.35 am. As per the protocol worked out, the first to arrive will be the prime minister of Brunei and the last to reach will be the Thai king.
One of the main spectacles of the parade will be the breathtaking stunts on motorcycles performed by ‘Seema Bhawani’ – a group of 113 women from the Border Security Force or BSF. The group would be a first all-women contingent from any force to perform biking stunts at the parade.
Source: Rediff