NEW DELHI:Thousands watched as tanks, camel-mounted forces and motorbike stunt ridersparaded in New Delhi yesterday, as India marked its seventieth Republic Day inan annual display of culture and military might. Security was tight, especiallyin the capital where large sections were sealed off for the parade and visitingdignitaries including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was theguest of honor.
Around 25,000police and paramilitary forces were deployed across the city for the event. Theday marks the date in 1950 when India's new constitution came into effect.India gained independence from Britain in 1947, but went through a transitionalphase when it was still classed as a dominion.
The parade at theheart of the Indian capital had the customary colorful array of securityforces, including camel-mounted border forces in vivid turbans, tanks, missilesand groups from across the country in regional dress. On the eve of the nationalday, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind urged people to vote in nationalelections due by May. "An electionis not just a political exercise. An election is a collective call to wisdomand a collective call to action," Kovind said in his speech.
"This makesthe very act of voting a sacred act," he added. Prime Minister NarendraModi, who analysts say is locked in a hard-fought electoral battle, hopes to bere-elected in the upcoming elections. Ramaphosa, who is leading a delegation toIndia, held a meeting with Modi and said he hoped for closer bilateralcooperation between the two countries. "(We) concluded this morning athree year strategic program of cooperation," Ramaphosa told journalistsafter the Friday meeting. -AFP