President of France Emmanuel Macron sat next to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi as the Chief Guest of Indian Republic Day 2024 this morning. But first, the two heads of state, who get along really well, took a selfie.
This morning, Macron observed the 75th Republic Day parade with great interest — the theme of “Nari Shakti (Woman Power)” was spectacularly showcased at the parade; women marched and led regiments, marching bands, and the cultural tableaux.
French legionnaires also marched on Kartavya Path, and French-made Rafale aircraft were part of the flypast that traditionally closes the parade.
Colourful sightseeing and roadshow in Jaipur
Yesterday afternoon, Macron arrived in Jaipur at the invitation of the Government of India and spent some colourful hours sightseeing before he was joined by Modi. The two leaders took part in a roadshow; took a selfie in front of Hawa Mahal, the Jaipur icon that serves as the city’s global calling card; and had masala chai from a local vendor.
Macron also visited the hilltop Amber Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory, and received a small replica of the newly inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The carefully curated tour ended at a palace-turned-hotel.
The two leaders were driven in an open-top vehicle through a short stretch in the heart of the city, beginning from Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory which is now a UNESCO heritage site.
Macron and Modi stood in the vehicle, chatting and waving at people who lined the route. For the prime minister, it was his third visit to Jaipur after December 3, when the BJP won the Assembly polls.
They got down in front of the breezy Hawa Mahal, and admired the lit-up five-storey building with nearly 1,000 windows and ‘jharokhas’.
The two leaders visited a handicrafts shop in the area. Modi, who led the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s new Ram Mandir this week, bought a small replica of the temple for the guest, according to the shopkeeper.
He paid INR 500 for the artefact — digitally, through UPI, showcasing the ‘Made in India’ digital payment interface.
“Sahu chaiwala”, who had set up a temporary stall for the occasion, accepted INR 2 as token payment for the masala tea offered to the leaders. Again, the payment was digital.
The two leaders boarded the open-top vehicle again to continue the roadshow up to Sanganeri Gate. From there, they were to be driven to Rambagh Palace for dinner and the bilateral talks.
Earlier, in the afternoon, the French delegation was received by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra; and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma at the Jaipur airport.
A couple of hours later, Modi, who was on a visit to Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, also reached Jaipur.
He met up with Macron at Jantar Mantar, where the two shook hands, hugged and then took a brief tour of the observatory.
Before this meeting, Macron had already ticked off Amber Palace on his Jaipur itinerary. His delegation had headed straight from the airport to the fort, the seat of Kachhwa Rajputs before Jaipur was founded nearby.
A red carpet was laid out and caparisoned elephants lined up at the fort for the French president.
Macron interacted there with a group of children. The delegation also browsed through artefacts on display at the temporary stalls set up near the entrance.
S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari were at the fort.
Cutouts and hoardings were earlier put up at several locations in Jaipur around the sites that Modi and Macron were set to visit.