Brahmos Missile Showcased; French Contingent Takes Part In Parade

India and France have been negotiating the $9 billion Rafale deal – which, as well as 36 jets in ready-to-fly condition, includes weapons systems and a maintenance support package – since April 2015 when Modi visited France.

India and France on Monday signed an inter-governmental pact that will provide the former with 36 French-built Rafale fighter planes.

The invitation for Hollande to be chief guest at India’s Republic Day military parade on Tuesday had raised expectations the multi-billion dollar agreement for the Rafale jets would finally be sealed.

Hollande also pledged 300 million Euros to develop solar energy in next five years. He said the financial issues will be resolved very soon.

STRASBOURG, France-The Council of Europe on Monday criticised France’s bid to extend the state of emergency imposed after the deadly Paris attacks, in a letter from the watchdog’s secretary-general to President Francois Hollande.

Prime Minister also said expressed happiness over the signing of agreement for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircrafts.

It’s fitting that with French President François Hollande appearing at the Republic Day parade yesterday, France is now the country whose head of state has been chief guest on this occasion the highest number of times. French President Hollande was quoted by news agencies as saying the signing of the IGA was a “decisive” step and that the financial issues will be sorted out in a “couple of days”. “Nothing will deter us, no threat will make France waver in the fight against terrorism”, Hollande told reporters.

India is celebrating its 67th Republic Day on Tuesday (Today 26th) showing off its latest weapons at a military parade in the capital, Delhi.

The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in urban development between Telangana and the Bordeaux Metropole.

Hollande said his visit to India was aimed at reinforcing “cooperation against terrorism”.

In line with France and India’s commitment to clean energy was the launch of the International Solar Alliance headquarters on the outskirts of New Delhi.

“From nuclear cooperation to railway locomotives, we are sowing the seeds of an ever-tightening web of cooperation between our two countries, ” Modi said.

The French leader arrived Sunday in the northern city of Chandigarh, where Modi joined him and lauded France’s decision to invest $1 billion every year in India in various sectors.