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71st Republic Day celebrations: Brazil’s Prez Jair Bolsonaro arrives amid criticism, city under thick security cover

Preparations are in full swing to celebrate India’s 71st Republic Day parade this Sunday at the India Gate, New Delhi. The day is celebrated with great pomp and show as a celebration of India’s diversity.

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Republic Day parade

Preparations are in full swing to celebrate India’s 71st Republic Day parade this Sunday at the India Gate, New Delhi. The day is celebrated with great pomp and show as a celebration of India’s diversity.

The vibrant parade will involve different tableau representing various Indian states and their culture in a colourful way. The regiments of the Indian Defence Forces – the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy will also march to the iconic India Gate, where they will showcase their military power and strength.

The many firsts

This Republic Day celebration will be the first where the Chief of Defence staff will welcome the Prime Minister along with the Chiefs of the three defense forces – Army Chief Gen M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh. Former Army chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat on January 1 had taken charge as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff.

The Prime Minister will pay homage to fallen soldiers at the newly-built National War Memorial instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti beneath the India Gate arch. The National War Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25 last year.

Who is the Chief Guest?

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be the chief guest for this year’s Republic Day celebrations. He won the country’s presidential elections in 2018 after running on a far-right platform. Bolsonaro’s politics has been branded as “homophobic”, “misogynistic” and “radical”.

Bolsonaro, a retired army officer, entered politics in 1988 as he was elected as the city councilor in Rio de Janeiro, representing the Christian Democratic Party(CDP). He has been a vocal opponent of same sex-marriage, environmental regulations, abortion and affirmative action (particularly racial quotas).

According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais),  destruction of the Amazon rain forest increased by 88% for the month of June 2019, during Bolsonaro’s first year as president. He has been criticized by environmentalists worldwide for not providing sufficient aid during the 2019 Brazil wildfire.

Walled city of Jaipur, Step-well of Patan as tableau

Sixteen states and Union Territories and Six Central Ministries will participate in the Republic Day Parade this year at Rajpath in New Delhi.

Start-up India, Jal Jeevan Mission and Financial Inclusion are some of the themes of the tableaux of Ministries and Departments.

The Walled City of Jaipur and Gujarat’s iconic step-well in Patan and the 550th Anniversary of Sikhism Founder Guru Nanak Dev will be thematically showcased among the host of tableaux in the Republic Day function.

Many tableaux were rejected this year. These states are Haryana, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar and Kerala. This move has been heavily criticized by the opposition. Congress leader Abhishekh Manu Singhvi said that India’s diversity, heritage, cultural soft power and essence cannot be done justice after exclusion of these massive states, in terms of area and population.

“Daredevils” motorcycle stunt team, IAF’s new apache and much more….

This year the parade will also feature the country’s Border Security Force, the “Daredevils” motorcycle stunt team, Sikh Light Infantry, the Grenadiers, and the Parachute Regiment, which will make a comeback after a gap of four years.

The Dhanush guns, known as the ‘desi’ Bofors, will be the star attraction of the Army contingent at the parade.

Indian Air  Force’s new Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift helicopters will also be participating in a fly-by for the first time.

Highlight of this year’s celebration – Tania Shergill

Captain Tania Shergill, a fourth generation Army officer, will be the parade’s first female adjutant. Shergill, who will be leading the Corps of Signals contingent, was also the first women ever to have led a contingent on the Army Day.

Security

In light of the recent Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests, multi-layered security arrangements have been made for this year’s celebration. Officials have imposed restrictions on wearing black caps or scarves during Republic Day celebrations.

25,000 police personnel have been deployed to keep a watch on the route from Rajpath to the Red Fort.

More than 150 CCTV cameras have been installed in areas covering Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and Yamuna Khadar.

Metro operations will also be affected as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC) issued a statement saying that the gates of Central Secretariat & Udyog Bhawan remain closed up to 12:00 pm, Lok Kalyan Marg & Patel Chowk shall be closed from 8:45 am to 12:00 pm on 26 January.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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