In a first, no foreign head of State to attend Republic Day this year as chief guest
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New Delhi, January 15: For the first time in five decades, no foreign dignitary will be present at India's Republic Day parade, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava made this announcement during the press conference.
Announcing the development, he stated that given the world health crisis, India had decided to not invite any foreign head as the Chief Guest for the 26 January parade. Srivastava said, "Due to the global Covid 19 situation, it has been decided that this year there will not be a foreign head of state or head of govt as the chief guest at our republic day event".
It should be noted that India had earlier invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade later this month. However, on 5 January, Johnson canceled his planned trip to India due to a new variant of COVID-19 which is widely spreading in the UK.
"In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading, the Prime Minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus," the spokesperson said.
This is the 4th time in history that no foreign guest will be present at India's republic day. The last time it had happened was in the year 1966, and before that in 1953 and 1952.
Meanwhile, the absence of a foreign head is not the only change introduced in Republic Day Parade 2021. This year, the parade will witness major changes due to COVID-19 pandemic. Every year, the parade covers a distance of 8.5 km but the Republic Day parade, this year will only march for a distance of 3.5 Km. The reduction in the distance is the outcome of the decision to maintain social distancing between the marching contingents.