France President Francois Hollande To Be Republic Day Chief Guest

Julien Bouissou, the South Asia correspondent of French daily La Monde has tweeted that French President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade of January 26, 2016.

The acceptance was conveyed by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius during his day-long visit yesterday.

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France with the announcement that his government would circumvent an earlier tender to purchase the Rafale jets which could cost India more than $5 billion. Hollande himself had visited New Delhi in February 2013.

The visiting minister, here to hold deliberations with India on the preparations ahead of the crucial Paris climate summit, said fighting against worldwide terrorism and combating climate change are the two major challenges of the 21st century. Almost 130 people were killed and over 200 injured when armed gunmen launched simultaneous attacks across Paris last Friday.

Reports of Hollande attending India’s Republic Day celebrations come at a time when his country is reeling under what has been described as worst attack on France’s soil since World War II.