Rain Fails to Dampen Spirits as Obama Attends India Parade
Rain failed to dampen spirits at India's Republic Day parade Monday as Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display in a sign of the nations' growing closeness.
Thousands of cheering spectators braved wet weather and heavy security to watch the parade, which marks the birth of modern India and includes everything from tanks and state-of-the-art weaponry to camels and traditional dancers.
The invitation to the annual celebration is one of the biggest honours the country can bestow on a foreign leader and underscores the increasing warmth between Obama and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The leaders smiled and chatted as they watched from behind a bulletproof glass screen, Modi sporting a green and orange turban with a pink circular plume that rivalled the spectacular military headgear on display.
The Indian premier's style choices have drawn praise from Obama, but he was mocked on Twitter for wearing a bespoke jacket with his own name embroidered into a pin-stripe to meet the U.S. president on Sunday.
Obama gave a thumbs-up as stunt-riders on motorbikes formed their trademark human pyramid before the grand finale of the event, a fly-past by Indian fighter jets.
The display of military might came a day after Obama and Modi renewed a defense cooperation agreement, with the United States and India both seeking a counterbalance to a rising China.
Much of the hardware on display was Russian-made, a reminder that despite the growing closeness of the world's two largest democracies, India still has strong defense ties with Moscow.
The mounted Border Security Force on their brightly-decorated camels, a traditional highlight, drew loud cheers from spectators who were out in force.
"This day is all about patriotism and I'm lucky to be a part of it," said 20-year-old college student Ajith Kumar, attending the central Delhi event with his parents and younger sister.
"The fact that we have a guest like Obama has made it all the more special."
Obama's presence as chief guest represents a remarkable turnaround in his relationship with India's new leader, who only a year ago was persona non grata in Washington.
He began his visit Sunday with a bear hug from Modi, later saying their new "friendship" reflected a natural affinity between the two countries.
"I'm honored to be the first American president to attend this celebration, as well as the first president to visit India twice," said Obama.
The parade celebrates the adoption in 1950 of the Indian Constitution -- the day it became a republic -- after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
A float representing Modi's home state of Gujarat featured a statue of Sardar Patel, a founding father of the republic and personal hero of the premier, who is building the world's tallest statue in his honor.
Alongside the carnival floats and military hardware were reminders of India's achievements, including a dance by schoolchildren representing the country's Mars mission last year.
Roads were closed around the area, which has been declared a no-fly zone, and snipers were positioned on rooftops along the route, where 15,000 new CCTV cameras have been installed.
No cameras were allowed near the spectacle, with the White House press pack forced to hand over phones and even pens.
The growing camaraderie between Modi and Obama comes after a tense row involving the arrest and strip-search of an Indian diplomat in New York which marred relations in late 2013.
The two leaders on Sunday announced a breakthrough on an agreement to provide civilian nuclear technology to India that was signed in 2008 but had been held up by U.S. concerns over liability in the event of a nuclear accident.
They also extended a defense pact and agreed to enhance cooperation on climate change, but the focus was more on warming ties than specific policy announcements.
Modi's election in May 2014 was a potential headache for the U.S., which had blacklisted the Hindu nationalist for more than a decade after deadly communal riots in Gujarat when he was state chief minister.
He was only brought in from the cold last February when the U.S. ambassador traveled to Gujarat once it appeared Modi was likely to end the center-left Congress party's 10-year rule.
Nonetheless Modi has gone out of his way to welcome the US president, breaking with protocol to greet him on the tarmac and inviting him to co-host a radio phone-in.
Obama met leaders of the opposition Congress party at his hotel later Monday before attending a reception hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee.
He and Modi will also address company bosses at an event organized by the U.S.-India Business Council.
Modi is trying to attract global business to manufacture in India to fulfill his election pledge of creating enough jobs for the burgeoning young population.
Source: Agence France Presse
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