Indian Armed Forces contingent leaves for Paris to participate in France’s National Day Parade

July 15th, 2009 PARIS - Others may have wilted but not India's 77-year-old Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who valiantly stood next to French President Nicolas Sarkozy through much of the two-hour Bastille Day parade and then after it was over decided to abandon his carcade to walk to his hotel. After the rains of the previous week, Paris was warm as it celebrated its National Day Tuesday and many people lined up on either side of the Champs Elysees were seen looking for shade and a place to rest their legs.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - India and France Tuesday resolved to scale up bilateral ties as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrapped up a 24-hour official visit here with a working lunch with President Nicolas Sarkozy who honoured him by making him the chief guest at the colourful national day parade that had contingents of Indian armed forces particpating. Officials said the two leaders discussed the situation in the subcontinent and regional and global issues including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, the Middle East.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - The Indian armed forces achieved a significant landmark in their history on Tuesday, when they led the massive Bastille Day military parade down Paris's majestic Champs Elysee to the backdrop of concert music, fireworks and garden parties in the presence of French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who was the Chief Guest of Honour at the event this year.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in Paris late on Monday night to participate in the National Day celebrations of the Republic of France.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - India and France Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed an array of issues including the threat from international terrorism. At a working lunch in the French capital, the two leaders discussed the situation in the sub-continent and regional and global issues including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, the Middle East.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - Visiting Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday said that the participation of an Indian armed forces contingent in the Bastille Day parade on the occasion of France's National Day, reflected the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

July 14th, 2009 PARIS - The sun broke through the clouds to shine brightly over the famed Parisian boulevard of Champs Elysses Tuesday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first foreign leader to be chief guest at France's national day parade. India was the focus as France celebrated 220 years of being a republic - when the storming of the Bastille prison signalled the uprising of modern nation states around the world.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, left for the French capital, Paris, today to be the Chief Guest of Honour at France's National Day celebrations on July 14th. He is the first Indian leader to be bestowed this honour, as France does not have a tradition of inviting foreign heads of state to be chief guests at their Bastille Day or National Day celebrations.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left Monday for a four-day trip to Paris, where he will attend the French National Day parade, and the Egyptian resort town of Sharm-el-Sheikh for the 15th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit. Manmohan Singh, who is the first foreign leader to be accorded the honour of being chief guest at the Bastille Day parade, will be in Paris for a day before leaving for Sharm-el-Sheikh.

July 13th, 2009 PARIS - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Paris Monday night to attend the French National Day parade as chief guest, the first foreign leader to be accorded the honour. The honour reciprocates India's gesture of inviting French President Nicolas Sarkozy as chief guest for its Republic Day parade in January this year, said French envoy to India Jerome Bonnanfont.

July 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will be chief guest at the French National Day Celebrations in Paris on July 14.

July 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh goes to Paris Monday, France is moving ahead rapidly to implement its bilateral civil nuclear pact with India. French company Areva is close to finalising a contract for two nuclear reactors to be set up in Maharashtra.

July 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A 400-strong contingent of the three wings of Indian defence forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) performed a full-dress rehearsal here today ahead of their visit to France to participate in a parade making National Day celebrations in France on July 14. This is the for the first time that all the three services - Army, Navy and Air Force will be participating in the National Day celebrations of another country.

February 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Territorial Army contingent has has been adjudged the best marching contingent among the armed forces at the Republic Day parade Jan 26, it was announced here Monday. A panel of judges also selected the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent as the best among the paramilitary and other auxiliary contingents, an official statement said.

January 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's 60th Republic Day celebrations began here Monday morning with Defence Minister A.K. Antony paying homage to the unknown soldier at the India Gate war memorial.