Republic Day: No international head of state as chief visitor, first in 55 years

Due to the prevailing Covid-19 state of affairs, the Centre has determined towards having any international head of state or authorities because the chief visitor for this yr’s Republic Day occasion on January 26, information company PTI reported. This is the primary time in 55 years that India just isn’t going to have any chief visitor for the Republic Day parade.
Addressing a press convention on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated, “Due to the global Covid-19 situation, it has been decided that this year there will not be any foreign head of state or government as the chief guest for our Republic Day event.”
The Indian Express had on January 7 reported that the central authorities was considering on these strains after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had known as up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed “regret” that he wouldn’t be capable to go to India to be chief visitor for the Republic Day celebrations. Johnson took this determination in view of the recent nationwide lockdown within the UK as a result of new, extra contagious mutant pressure of the novel coronavirus.

The final time India didn’t ship an invite to any head of state was in 1966 as a result of premature demise of then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The new authorities headed by Indira Gandhi was sworn in on January 24, 1966 – solely two days forward of the Republic Day parade.
The Republic Day celebrations have been truncated this yr on account of the pandemic. Last yr’s Independence Day celebrations had additionally been scaled down.

An invitation to be chief visitor at India’s Republic Day is a particular honour for the visiting international dignitary. New Delhi has been weaving technique with hospitality whereas deciding on the chief visitor. The alternative is dictated by numerous elements — strategic and diplomatic, enterprise pursuits, and geo-politics.