M A I N   N E W S

Quake dampens R-Day fervour

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (UNI, PTI) — A devastating quake that killed more than 16,000 people in Gujarat dampened the 52nd Republic Day celebrations today.

It struck shortly before the parade was to begin here, and left a trail of destruction in Gujarat.

In the national capital, a spectacular flypast by the country’s frontline aircraft including the Sukhoi-30 warplanes gave a heady finish to the parade, witnessed by President K.R. Narayanan and Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika.

Commanded by Maj Gen Vinod Bhanot, General Officer Commanding, Delhi area, the parade began with a march by the proud winners of the highest gallantry awards. They included Kargil heroes and Paramvir Chakra winners Hav Yogender Singh Yadav and Hav Sanjay Kumar, Ashok Chakra awardee Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd) and Victoria Cross recipient Sub Maj Bhandari Ram (retd).

The national capital resembled an impregnable fortress today as the 52nd Republic Day celebrations were held amidst tight security blanket.

President K.R. Narayanan unfurled the national flag and witnessed an impressive parade. The President took the salute from a specially erected bullet-proof enclosure.

Witnessing the celebrations and having a feel of the whiff of patriotic fervour was Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika. The gala event was attended by Vice President Krishan Kant, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his ministerial colleagues, diplomats and senior officials.

A resurgent India celebrated the first Republic Day of the new millennium by unfolding its awesome military prowess alongside a rich tapestry of its multi-cultural heritage and envious strides in critical sectors of the economy.

As the morning sun tore through the wintry sky to spread warmth on Raj Path, the majestic tree-lined broad avenue for the ceremonial parade, the world’s largest democracy showcased its defence preparedness through top-of-the-line weapon systems, assuring the citizens of its commitment to protect the frontiers against all odds.

For one hour and 50 minutes, Raj Path sizzled and shimmered as Supreme Commander of Armed Forces President K.R. Narayanan, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika the chief guest at this year’s function, political leaders, chiefs of defence forces, dignitaries and the swirling mass of humanity on either flank of the parade route, watched the proceedings in rapt attention.

Escorted by the President’s Bodyguards, the oldest horse regiment in the world, Mr Narayanan arrived at Raj Path accompanied by the Algerian President. A 21-gun salute was given by gunners of the 81 Field Battery of 12 Field Regiment in the President’s honour.

Part of the show was a mounted column of the 61 Cavalry which made way for the mechanised columns. The Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Prithvi Missile System, billed as the country’s tactical ‘brahmastra’, 155 mm Field Howitzer 77B and Tunguska Air Defence Weapon System came as an assuring sight.

But what evoked tremendous curiosity were Sujav, a frequency jamming equipment, Safari, a jamming device for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which have been developed by the DRDO, and the Improved Reporter Radar (IRR).

While Sujav and Safari were displayed for the first time, the Reporter Radar, a state-of-the-art equipment of Dutch origin and capable of low-level surveillance of flying aircraft, were inducted into the Army in 1998.

KATHMANDU: The pall of anti-Hrithik violent demonstrations in the Kathmandu valley and various places elsewhere in the Hindu Himalayan kingdom late last month lay heavily over the Indian Embassy grounds today as Indian nationals residing here congregated to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the Republic.

Hardly one-fifth of the usually massive gathering collected somebrely in the Mission premises as Indian Ambassador Deb Mukharji unfurled the Tricolour to the strains of the National Anthem.

And still traumatised by the anti-India violence which began here exactly a month ago — to continue uninterrupted for almost 72 hours, those gathered discussed in hushed tones “the lack of concern” showed by the Mission during those turbulent days.

Not that the anti-Hrithik violence went unmentioned during the formalities which are normally gone through on India’s National Day. Ambassador Mukharji, in his brief address to the small gathering, did observe that he shared “the distress” that Indian nationals had felt — “some directly” — during the anti-Hrithik and anti-India violence in Nepal.

Mr Mukharji further sought to assuage — albeit belatedly — the wounded feeling by assuring that “such events shall not be allowed to happen again” and hoped that the Nepal government “will ascertain who were responsible for the regrettable episode.”