By KUNA
New Delhi : India Saturday celebrated its 59th Republic Day in a grand manner showcasing its military might as the countrys first woman President Pratibha Patil took the salute of the marching contingents here.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the guest of honour at the parade that showcased India’s latest military hardware including nuclear-capable missiles and rich cultural traditions.
A wide array of new military equipment including an indigenously developed Experimental Tank, the T-90 Main Battle Tank and a mobile launcher for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was on display for the first time at the parade.
An air show featuring Indias Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, the Il-76 heavy lift transport and the Mi-26, the world’s largest helicopter, marked the grand finale of the event.
There was tight security in place for the annual parade. Apart from police and paramilitary personnnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters were deployed at various locations at the route of the parade in the national capital.
India was proclaimed a republic in 1950, three years after it won independence from Britain.