India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day parade with less pomp and show. The programme was reduced due to the ongoing Covid -19 situation. The event saw a reduced list of events, the parade saw a shorter route, no chief guest, fewer spectators, no children under 15 in the annual parade, and fewer soldiers in the Army and Navy contingents.
However, the newly inducted Rafale fighter jet was among the many stars on show. This Republic Day also marked the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
The ongoing farmers’ protest turned to the next level as thousands of farmers knocked down barricades, clashed with the police, and entered Delhi this morning on Republic Day as they took out a tractor rally against the government’s new agricultural laws.
Chaos erupted at the borders of the capital as protesters were lathi-charged and tear-gassed by policemen. The disarray was caused after the protesters – allowed to hold the “Kisaan Parade” between 12 and 5 PM – began the march much before time and deviated from the agreed routes.
Spectators however assembled at the borders at around 8 AM even before the parade started. Some cops were injured while trying to stop the protesters. In central Delhi’s ITO, a police bus was reportedly hijacked.
