New Delhi: Spells of drizzle, chilly winds and fog failed to dampen the spirits of lakhs of spectators who braved the weather-enemy to witness the 66th Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath. The US President Barack Obama’s name would be scripted in history as he is the first American President to grace Republic Day events.
On a bullet-proof dais, the chemistry or “bromance” between Mr Modi and Mr Obama was evident as they were chatting, smiling and sharing light moments during the parade. Cheers went viral as Mr Obama and Mr Modi waved at them while approaching the saluting dais.
A touch of the “friendship” was seen again after the parade and departure of President Pranab Mukherjee. The US President and Indian Prime Minister walked a 400-metre stretch on Rajpath. Ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during whose tenure Mr Obama visited India for the first time, was present with his wife, Gursharan Kaur.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, holding an umbrella, was seen smiling as the tableaux rolled past Rajpath. Her son and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was not present at the event. The US President, reportedly, was so captured by the embrace of welcome and compassion of Mr Modi, that he apparently broke the Secret Service’s security protocol by spending over two hours in the open.
The security guidelines of the Secret Service, the agency responsible for an American President’s security, mandate that he does not spend more than 45 minutes in open air. The government had ensured extremely tight security from the eve of January 26.
