Republic Day : PM Narendra Modi walked on the Rajpath greeting people amid chants of “Modi, Modi”.
NEW DELHI : Continuing his style of greeting the crowd after the Republic Day parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday walked on the Rajpath greeting people amid chants of “Modi, Modi”. Modi has undertaken similar walks earlier too. He broke his security cover after last year’s Independence Day speech at the Red Fort when he stepped out of his car to meet school children.
Donning a yellow orange headgear with a red tail and kurta pajama and Nehru jacket, Modi waved to the crowds enthusiastically as he zig-zagged the Rajpath, closely followed by security personnel and his slow-moving motorcade. The Prime Minister started his walk soon after President Ram Nath Kovind and his South African counterpart and chief guest at the Republic Day parade, Cyril Ramaphosa, left Rajpath.
The crowds appeared pleased to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister from close. As Modi went close to the seating enclosures, some chanted “Modi, Modi” while others captured the moment on their mobile phones and cameras. Many came near the makeshift barricades to greet him.
Followed by his securitymen, PM Modi started his walk after seeing off the Chief Guest, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and President Ram Nath Kovind. Many rushed to the makeshift barricades to greet him, others captured the moment on their cellphones. This was not the first time the Prime Minister has broken security cordon to greet the people. After last year’s Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he had walked over to meet school children who had come for the occasion.
Television cameras at the venue captured ecstatic children rushing around him to shake his hands and click an occasional selfie. The Prime Minister had even broken security cordons on his many visits abroad, often outside hotels where he lodged. This morning, PM Modi was among the first to greet the people on the Republic Day. “Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians,” his tweet read.
Ahead of the celebrations at Rajpath he visited the Amar Jawan Jyoti, a memorial to martyred soldiers at the India Gate, accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs.
The spectacular parade was marked by a grand military parade, cultural programme by school children and the majestic fly past by the Indian Air Force. This year’s parade was themed on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Tableaux from many states captured the various phases from the life of the Father of the Nation.(Agencies Inputs ).
