(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
As India celebrates its 69th Republic Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN as guests of honour at the ceremonial parade being held at Rajpath. The parade is presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind. The Republic Day parade began at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where PM Modi paid homage to the soldiers who died in the line of duty. The National Anthem was played with a 21-gun salute after the unfurling of the tricolour. India’s military is on full display during the annual celebrations. The national capital has been wrapped in a thick security blanket to ensure peaceful celebrations. Special teams, anti-aircraft guns and snipers have been deployed to keep a vigil on the eight-km parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort. Hundreds of CCTV cameras as well as drones are watching people’s movements along the parade route. Nearly 60,000 security personnel from the Delhi Police and central security forces have been deployed in Central Delhi.