No Bengal in Republic Day Tableaux, Mamata Banerjee Government Fumes

The Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal today fumed about being left out of the Republic Day parade, watched by Chief Guest US President Barack Obama this year.

A Dalit labourer, feted by Barack Obama when he came to India in 2010, now wants to return the souvenir he had received from the US President to draw his attention to the plight of poor parents who cannot even afford primary education for their children.

The motorcycle stunt riders from the Border Security Force, called India's Daredevils got a thumbs up from chief guest US president Barack Obama at the Republic Day parade this morning. His wife Michelle Obama applauded for the bikers and also when the armed forces put up a spectacular air show to end the show.

At the Republic Day parade today, where US President Barack Obama is chief guest, the VVIP enclosure was protected from bullets but not rain. Umbrellas were the only cover for President Pranab Mukherjee, President Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others seated in a special glass enclosure.

While troops, tanks and helicopters showed off India's military might, cameras caught President Brack Obama, the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations, removing his chewing gum, and then popping it back into his mouth.

Nuclear deal done but questions remain, says Siddharth Varadarajan.

It was gray and rainy in Delhi this morning for the Republic Day parade, but excitement remained high around US President Barack Obama's landmark visit to India as thousands of troops prepared for the dazzling event where he is the chief guest.

Four helicopters with the tricolour and the flags of the three services flew over a wet Rajpath as the Republic Day parade began this morning. Tanks, missiles and columns of soldiers marching in perfect precision followed, watched by US President Barack Obama, who is the chief guest at the parade now on.

US President Barack Obama's unprecedented second visit to India is a "superficial rapprochement" given their hard differences on issues like climate change and nuclear energy cooperation, a wary China said yesterday as it kept a close watch on the outcome of talks.

He understands how modern day politics work, writes Harsh Pant.

For the Republic Day parade, where US President Barack Obama is chief guest, the Delhi police are keeping a close watch on people wearing black caps and mufflers.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said Kashmir Valley has made its presence felt through the dishes on the menu at the banquet of the visiting dignitary.