The Celebrations for the Republic Day Parade 2021
When the Celebrations for the Republic Day Parade 2021 were in full swing in India, the PM Boris Johnson of the UK, who was supposed to be the guest of honour, has officially cancelled the trip to India due to the COVID-19 scenario in the UK. Due to this, the Union government has limited options to handle this exigency that has arisen. Although the option of an alternative chief guest does exist for the government. It should note that the risk of holding it in Delhi during the COVID-19 scenario is still high.
To avert a catastrophe due to this risk and also ensure a smooth celebration, it is better to cancel it in Delhi and hold the Republic Day Parade in Kargil-Ladakh. This is a viable win-win option for the government as well as the Armed Forces for the 5 reasons below.
1) Safety of the soldiers should be given the first priority as the covid19 scenario is not yet over.
During the preparations for the parade, several reports have stated that over 100 soldiers had tested positive and this is not a good sign when the Chinese aggression is at the doorstep. Along with the soldiers, the Army leadership, tri-service chiefs, artists, children, policemen have a high chance of contracting the virus. Since the republic day parade also involves invitations to high profile dignitaries like the foreign ambassadors and members of the consulates, it would put all of them at high risk.
Moving to Kargil-Ladakh would save public money from this risky & unnecessary expenditure and even save time on logistics and management.
2) Kargil-Ladakh has infrastructure and roads for smooth conduct of the Republic Day Parade.
Although the weather is too cold in Ladakh, we must note that since our forces are strong enough to fight at freezing temperatures marching past would be nothing but a catwalk for them which they would do it with pride. The Kargil War Memorial in Leh, Rezang La War Memorial in Chushul and several other places in Ladakh have great roads which have been built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) and the Indian Army and those can be used for the parade and the troops can be gathered from nearby camps instead of transporting from different parts to Delhi that too two way. This will be a memorable one for all the departed souls who laid their lives defending this country from external aggression.
3) Cost to the exchequer will be reduced by moving to Ladakh.
The cost involved in the logistics and operations is pretty high if it is held in Delhi. The cost involved for setting up the seating arrangements & security is incredibly high as the crowd will be heavy in Delhi. The Republic Day Parade requires a 5 tier security to manage the crowd that comes year on year, if this security is put up again, it will only result in high costs for deploying the police i.e the Delhi police and the central reserve police on special duty as they are entrusted with all the frisking. Moving to Ladakh would save public money from this risky & unnecessary expenditure and even save time on logistics and management.
4) Enthusing the frontline forces
The primary purpose of the Republic day Parade is to showcase to the country the capabilities of the Armed forces but not every Armed forces personnel gets such a privilege. The chances for a person from the frontline borders to participate in the Republic Day Parade is even rarer but the scenario right now can give them an opportunity. The government can celebrate this Republic Day Parade as “For the soldiers, by the soldiers and of the soldiers”. This will ensure both soldiers safety and also civilian safety and at the same time keep the morale of the soldiers even higher for such recognition.
5) Message to China
Conducting the Republic Day Parade in Ladakh would be termed as the boldest move by the government, the world will look up to India for standing up to the bullying tactics of China and it will also fire up the mood of the public about Chinese aggression in Ladakh and will give a clear direction that the government is serious about handling China.
This is a great opportunity for the BJP led the Union government to take immediate steps on this regard as it involves the morale of our soldiers.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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Invite the farmers to join the parade. Jai jawan jai kissan. After the parade, every one to go home and let the central govt as well as each state govt come out with a white paper by next RDay, on how the 3 laws fared in 2021..
“Jai Jawān, Jai Kisān (जय जवान, जय किसान)”— Indeed a very māntrically (मांत्रिक) chanted set of words, atleast post-Independence, whose first half for whatever reason has been forgotten, while the second half has begotten votes upon votes besotting the entire socio-political ecosystem.
The farmers, famed for fighting for their famished brethren, are apparently also raring to go marching alongside the troops down the Capital’s Rajpath on the Republic Day, if not matching, marking or marring the latter. But would they, too, heed this article’s advice to go over to Ladakh?
The Center would be left in a cleft stick, at a loss whether to be seen as fleeing free from Delhi or else getting stranded astride the double cavalcade.
Dear Sir, your suggestion does not make sense at all. How can major event of the country, Republic day can be held somewhere else other than the capital. People in Delhi are not indoors. people are all over and are wearing masks and taking precautions. MPs MLAs ministers and thousands of others can come and attend wearing masks. Police and army are not indoors. when people are doing their duty at 12-15 000 feet, do they feel uncomfortable at ground level. International leaders LOVE to come to India. We can get PM of Japan, South korea, Australia or some other nation having good relation ship with India. The event must be done no matter what. This is a question of prestige for the nation.
Does our Prestige come before the health and safety of this country and also it is not a mandate that Republic Day Parade needs to be held in Delhi.
Did you see the news today about twitter locking Trump’s account for a few hours until certain tweets are removed?
Imagine if the do the same for Modi. Furthermore, imagine instead of locking the account, they reset his password and tweet something. Mayhem will ensue.
That’s the greatest threat, not China.
China is being made a boogeyman so you can get colonized again and again.
The Republic Day Parade ceremony IN LIEU OF the National Capital, Delhi, and OUTSIDE on the Kargil/Ladakh national border, that too face-to-face with a reckless & feckless enemy? At a far less crowd, Covid & security cost, concern & strain, that too in the face of the globally admired & praised pandemic performance by Bharat? The LAC (Line of Actual Control) being made a case for celebration & alacrity, but not at all for caution & alertness? “For the soldiers, by the soldiers and of the soldiers”, but, really, how much for the PEOPLE, by the people and of the people? Don’t states have their own parades IN ADDITION, WITHOUT REPLACING the one at the Center?
“Out of the BOX suggestion”? Rather, out of one’s CRANIAL BOX, it seems for sure.
(It is fancied that the present article is a satire, after all, even while finishing the comment.)
When did Ladakh or Kargil become our National Border or have accepted you accepted the Chinese version ? – Have I asked to do RD Parade along the LAC or in a Base camp near War memorial situated in Kargil – a district in Ladakh Union Territory ? . The entire region is manned 24/7 by Army , ITBP , CRPF , BSF , BRO and we need 30 contingents (12*12 array ) to do a Parade and all are available nearby. Rather than moving close to 5000 troops to Delhi , cant we hold it nearby without undermining their sacrifices ? – As responsible citizen you should have verified certain facts before getting judgemental.
This ‘out of the box’ suggestion is really very good.
Hope someone reaches this suggestion to the decision makers.
lol…leftists will have a field-day as they will use this as a sign that govt. has failed to contain covid in India. I don’t think govt. will do this, but if its done, then it will become a great talking point for years.