Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya emphasized the importance of constitutional values in his Republic Day message. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Senior political leaders, including Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak of the ruling BJP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, extended their greetings to the people on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day on Sunday (January 26, 2025).

Samajwadi Party National President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav conveyed his wishes in a post on X, saying, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious festival of Republic Day!”

BSP National President and former Chief Minister Mayawati also greeted people on X, saying, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all Indians living in the country and abroad on the 76th Republic Day of India.”

Raising concerns, she added, “It is a matter of concern whether the people who shed blood and sweat for the country’s progress are receiving the fruits of their hard work, justice, and rights as per the Constitution.”

She emphasized that “Every Indian has a right in the development of India. Therefore, rather than increasing the number of big capitalists and rich people, the country’s capital should be raised as it is more important in the interest of the Bahujan and ultimately the country.”

Mayawati said, “If the policy of the government promotes the common man’s interest, then it is appropriate so that the problems of immense poverty, unemployment etc. are removed.”

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya emphasized the importance of constitutional values in his message on X. “Every word of the Constitution gives us the message of unity, equality, and justice,” he said, adding that the dreams of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar could only be realized by imbibing these values.

Mr. Maurya said, “It is a matter of great pride for all of us that 75 years have passed since the adoption of our Constitution. In these 75 years, the Constitution has kept us united in every situation and has inspired us towards continuous progress.”

The Deputy Chief Minister further said, “Republic Day is not just a celebration, but an opportunity to honour our rights and duties. On this day, let us pledge to contribute actively to the unity and progress of the country by adhering to constitutional ideals.”

He urged people to work together to build a “prosperous, strong, just, and developed India.”

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also extended his greetings, saying, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the state on the 76th Republic Day! Jai Hind!” in a post in X.

BJP State President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary called Republic Day a “great festival of Indian democracy.” In his message on X, he said, “Let us remember the excellent ideals of the Constitution and pledge to uphold the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the country.”

The national capital is on high alert with over 70 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 70,000 police personnel are deployed across the city. A six-layered security protocol involving 15,000 security personnel will be deployed in New Delhi district alone.

“Installation of more than 2,500 CCTV cameras equipped with data-based facial recognition and video analytics. Anti-drone systems covering a four kilometres radius to detect and deactivate aerial threats. Snipers on rooftops and sealing of over 200 buildings along the parade route, with residential windows facing the route also secured,” a police officer said.

Commandoes, quick reaction teams, PCR vans, anti-sabotage checks and SWAT teams are deployed at strategic locations along Kartavya Path and all around the city, he said.

Flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms such as paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), microlight aircraft, remotely-piloted aircraft, hot-air balloons, small size-powered aircraft, quadcopters or parajumping from aircraft are prohibited over Delhi till February 1.

New Delhi:

President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in celebrating the 76th Republic Day from Delhi’s Kartavya Path today. With special focus on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution and Jan Bhagidari, the celebrations this year will be unique.

New Delhi:

 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in the national capital on Friday night, on his first state visit to India.

He was received by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita at the airport in New Delhi.

President Prabowo, who is in India from January 23-26, will also be the Chief Guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that the visit will further strengthen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“A warm welcome to President Prabowo Subianto @prabowo of Indonesia as he arrives in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS @PmargheritaBJP at the airport. President @prabowo will be the Chief Guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations. This visit will further strengthen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a post on X.

A warm welcome to President Prabowo Subianto @prabowo of Indonesia as he arrives in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS @PmargheritaBJP at the airport.

President @prabowo will be the Chief Guest for ’s 76th Republic Day celebrations.

This visit will… pic.twitter.com/OEeXLOengC

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 23, 2025

Before departing, President Prabowo shared the details of his visit on X, and said the visit is aimed to strengthen strategic cooperation in areas such as security, maritime, and digital technology development.

He also informed that he will depart for Malaysia after his Indonesia visit.

“Today, I depart for New Delhi, India, to attend the 76th Republic Day celebrations of India. During my visit, I will meet with the President and Prime Minister of India to strengthen strategic cooperation in areas such as security, maritime, and digital technology development,” the Indonesian President stated.

“After completing my agenda in India, I will continue my trip to Malaysia at the invitation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Close cooperation with friendly countries has always been our priority to build a stronger and more prosperous region together,” he added.

 During his visit, President Subianto is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, the MEA stated.

On Friday, he will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Taj Mahal Hotel at 4:00 pm.

On January 25, President Prabowo will participate in a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:00 am, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat.

He will later hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House at 12:00 pm, which will include the exchange of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and press statements.
In the evening, he will meet with India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Taj Mahal Hotel at 4:00 pm. At 7:00 pm, he will meet President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On January 26, President Prabowo will attend the Republic Day Parade as the Chief Guest. Later in the afternoon, he will attend the “At Home” Reception hosted by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. At 5:30 pm, he will depart for Indonesia.

Notably, with President Subianto as Chief Guest at this year’s Republic Day, a 352-member marching and band contingent from the country will be participating in the Parade on the Kartvya Path in the national capital.

This will be the first time that an Indonesian marching and band contingent will participate in a national day parade abroad.

Several MoUs and announcements are likely to be concluded and the third CEO Forum will be held on the sidelines.

President Prabowo will be the fourth Indonesian President to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations.

PM Modi paid an official visit to Indonesia in 2018. During the visit, India-Indonesia bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and a shared vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was also adopted.

PM Modi also met President Prabowo on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in November last year. This was the first meeting between the two leaders.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)