In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic closing on the heels of Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling off his India visit due to the coronavirus situation in the UK, Congress chief Shashi Tharoor proposed canceling the Republic Day festivities. Tharoor said it would be ‘irresponsible’ for people to cheer for the parade as usual. Johnson, who was expected to attend the New Delhi Republic Day celebrations as chief guest, has canceled his visit to India later this month due to the growing health crisis created by the new coronavirus variant in the UK.
“Now that @BorisJohnson’s visit to India this month has been cancelled due to the COVID Second Wave, & we don’t have a Chief Guest on Republic Day, why not go one step farther & cancel the festivities altogether?” Mr Tharoor asked on Twitter on Tuesday night.
“Getting crowds to cheer the parade as usual would be irresponsible,” he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with his UK counterpart, Johnson, during which the British leader affirmed his gratitude to India for inviting him to the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, but regretted his failure to participate.
“In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading, the Prime Minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus,” the statement from UK Prime Minister’s office read.
Republic Day parade to be shorter this year with fewer spectators, smaller marching contingents
“The leaders underlined their shared commitment to the bilateral relationship, and to continuing to build on the close collaboration between our countries — including in response to the pandemic,” it added.
The Johnson administration declared a full lockdown, which could last until mid-February, for England’s 56 million inhabitants.
The steps were taken in the wake of a massive spurt in coronavirus outbreaks, which at the end of December saw 80,000 new infections on a single day.