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Delhi- On 26th January 2021, India celebrating its 72nd Republic Day. In the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries including Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Tricolour was unfurled at Delhi’s Rajpath.
A total of 32 tableaux — 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries, and six from the defense arm — will be seen going down Rajpath. Among these, the tableaux of Ladakh –– the Union Territory that was created in 2019 after the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir –– will be included for the first time.
With Covid-19 protocols in place and the protesting farmers’ tractor march scheduled in the national capital, this year’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi is wearing a different look due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While gravity-defying stunts by motorcycle-borne men are missing, the spectator size too has been reduced to 25,000 from around 1.25 lakh last year. The parade of children who receive bravery awards is missing. Keeping in mind social distancing, the size of marching contingents has been reduced from 144 to 96. Also, all members of the tableaux contingents from various states, ministries, and government departments have undergone Covid testing.
In his video message to celebrate the birth of an “extraordinary Constitution” that established India “as the biggest sovereign democracy in the world”, the UK PM reiterated his plan to visit India in the coming months. “I was hugely looking forward to joining you for this important occasion at the kind invitation of my friend Prime Minister Modi, alas our common struggle against COVID has kept me in London,” said Johnson.
Ahead of the tractor’s rally, protesting farmers near the Singhu and Tikri border broke police barricades to enter Delhi. The farmers are marching on foot as well as on tractors. On Sunday, Delhi Police had granted the farmers, protesting against the three contentious farm laws, permission to carry out a tractor parade on January 26 inside Delhi, but with modifications in their planned route and on the condition that they will start only after the completion of the official parade on Rajpath.
