Republic Day celebrations LIVE: PM Modi pays tributes to soldiers; President Kovind, ASEAN leaders arrive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting leaders of 10 ASEAN countries at the Republic Day parade that will be held at Rajpath today. Here are the live updates.

india Updated: Jan 26, 2018 10:07 IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to soldiers at Amar jawan Jyoti in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to soldiers at Amar jawan Jyoti in New Delhi.(ANI)

As the country geared up for the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted citizens on the occasion on Friday.

“Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind (sic),” the Prime Minister said in a tweet.

India will be showcasing its military prowess, culture and diversity in the presence of leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations who will attend the event at the Rajpath as chief guests.

There will be a march past by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag at the Republic Day parade, where 23 tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, will roll down the Rajpath.

The city has been wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket with thousands of security personnel keeping a hawk- eyed vigil to prevent any terror strike or untoward incident during the celebrations.

Here are the live updates:

10.05am: President Kovind gives away Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, to Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, a Garud Commando of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

9.58am: Prime Minister Modi receives President Ram Nath Kovind at Rajpath.

9.54am: Former President Pranab Mukherjee hoists tricolour at his residence, and wishes the citizens a happy Republic Day. “Let us all reaffirm our pledge to uphold the ideals enshrined in our Constitution & work towards a strong & prosperous India,” he says.

9.50am: Odisha governor SC Jamir unfurls tricolour in Bhubaneswar, chief minister Raman Singh hoists the National Flag in Bastar.

9.45am: Leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations have started to arrive at Rajpath. They are being welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi welcomes Muanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi at Rajpath. (Doordarshan screengrab)

9.35am:

9.33am: President Ramnath Kovind’s car to be escorted by the CO and 2IC of PBG on their horses Virat and Vikrant.

9.28am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and three Service Chiefs pay homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of the Armed Forces personnel, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland.

9.10am: Union home minister Rajnath Singh unfurls tricolour at his residence in Delhi, Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi hoists National Flag in Guwahati.

9.08am: India celebrates 69th Republic Day today. But how much do people know about the function? Hindustan Times asked people in different parts of central Delhi if they knew what a republic was and understood the significance of the celebrations. Read their responses here.

9.05am: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurls tricolour at a school in Kerala’s Palakkad.

8.50am: Mobile services in Kashmir Valley are suspended ahead of Republic Day parade. Services are expected to resume around midday.

8.42am: BJP chief Amit Shah unfurls tricolour at the party headquarters in Delhi.

BJP president Amit Shah hoists tricolour in Delhi. (ANI)

8.41am: Barricades have been put up on all major roads leading to the parade venue. Policemen check vehicles while also informing people about diversions.

8.40am: The national capital has been put under a security blanket with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters deployed in view of the Republic Day parade.

8.35am: Mobile internet services have been snapped in Kashmir as a precautionary measure on the occasion of the Republic Day. The internet services on mobile phones and data cards were suspended Thursday as part of the security drill of the Republic Day.

8.30am: Republic Day parade in Thiruvananthapuram.

8.10am: Republic Day Parade begins in Chennai.

8.08am: On the eve of Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday called for a “civic-minded” society where one can disagree with views, or even with a historical context, without mocking the other person’s dignity. Read the President’s full Republic Day speech here.

7.16am: The entry and exit from Central Secretariat and Udyog metro stations is closed from 5am till 12 noon. The entry and exit from metro stations Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly known as Race Course) and Patel Chowk will be closed from 8.45 am till 12 noon.

7.10am: The parade will start at 9:50 am from Vijay Chowk and proceed towards the Red Fort Grounds through the Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg.

7am: With help from ‘Google Maps’ that will guide people on traffic restrictions and alternative routes in place for the Republic Day parade, the Delhi Traffic Police will be ensuring Delhiites do not face inconvenience when they step out on Friday.

6.40am: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged the people to renew their pledge to defend and protect the Constitution and the values -- justice, liberty, equality and fraternity -- enshrined in it.

6.30am: Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory on traffic arrangements for Republic Day celebrations.

6.10am: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik greets countrymen on Republic Day.

6am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on occasion of India’s 69th Republic Day.

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