Emmanuel Macron, Republic Day chief guest in India today; roadshow, fort tour in itinerary

French President Emmanuel Macron reached Jantar Mantar on Thursday and was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Macron arrived in Jaipur on Thursday as part of his two-day state visit to India. Macron is visiting the country as he is the Republic Day chief guest this year.

He was received by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Kalraj Mishra at the Jaipur airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, reached Jaipur later.

The two then held a roadshow in the Pink City. PM Modi and Macron embarked on the roadshow from Jantar Mantar to Sanganeri Gate with a stopover at Hawa Mahal.

Macron has begun his packed day in Jaipur from Amer Fort, in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari.

Later, He arrived at Jantar Mantar, a World Heritage Site, where he was received by PM Modi. The two leaders held a roadshow around the area as it also holds historical significance for the French.

Jantar Mantar is the world’s largest observatory and has the largest stone sundial in the world.

In 1734, two French Jesuit astronomers stationed at the Jesuit mission in West Bengal's Chandernagore (now Chandannagar), then under French control, were invited to the court of the astronomer ruler Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur, according to scholar Dhruv Raina.

The Jantar Mantar is a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built by Sawai Jai Singh.

A photo op has been planned at the Hawa Mahal. Both PM Modi and Macron are likely to visit a handicraft shop and a tea shop during the visit. Thereafter, both leaders will visit the historic Albert Hall Museum.

The day will end at Rambagh Palace where PM Modi will host a private dinner for Macron. After that, the French President will head to Delhi for the Republic Day parade.

On Wednesday, rehearsals were being conducted by senior officers of Rajasthan Police and Jaipur administration ahead of Macron's visit to the Pink City.

DELHI VISIT

In Delhi, Macron will attend the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path as the chief guest. A contingent from the French Army is set to participate in this year's Republic Day parade.

Macron is the sixth French leader (fifth president) to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day after President François Hollande in 2016, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, Jacques Chirac in 1998, Valery Giscard d'Estaing in 1980, and Prime Minister Jacques Chirac in 1976.

After the parade, Macron will visit the French Embassy to interact with the staff there. In the evening, he will be at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ‘At Home’ function, followed by an official banquet dinner.

Macron's visit caps the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the strategic partnership between India and France. The two sides are likely to make major announcements in the defence and strategic sectors.

Invitation to Macron for the Republic Day celebrations came amid a rapid upswing in ties between the two countries, including in the areas of defence and security, clean energy, trade and investment and new technologies.

Macron will be travelling with a delegation comprising several ministers, CEOs and personalities from the cultural and scientific sectors.

India and France also expressed commitment to cooperate in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries.

In July last year, PM Modi was the guest of honour for the Bastille Day (French National Day) parade in Paris.

(with inputs from Geeta Mohan and Dev Ankur Wadhawan)