Najib among chief guests at Republic Day parade
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday joined other Asean leaders as chief guests at India’s 69th Republic Day ceremonial parade at Rajpath, the ceremonial road in the heart of the city.
Najib, in a navy blue suit, and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at 9.40am in chilly 13°C weather and were greeted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Present was Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.
Local media said this was the first time India and Modi hosted multiple chief guests for Republic Day. The presence of Asean leaders showed that the decadesold ties between India and the bloc had reached a new strategic level.
Chief guests included Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha and Viet- namese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
India’s Republic Day celebrates the date the constitution came into effect in 1950.
In the presence of Asean leaders and other spectators, India showcased its military prowess, culture and diversity, as well as its latest initiatives and achievements.
A total of 23 tableaux, representing various states, ministries and organisations, rolled down Rajpath during the two-hour event.