Putin awed by India’s military might

[Ghost Dog]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=January2007&file=World_News2007012781445.xml



new delhi • With Russian President Vladimir Putin as the chief guest, India yesterday showcased the cutting edge Russian weaponry in its arsenal as it celebrated its 58th Republic Day with a grand parade that seamlessly blended military might with an impressive display of cultural diversity.

A tight security blanket was thrown over the capital as Putin, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President A P J Abdul Kalam, in a bullet-proof enclosure, watched the display of military pomp, and technological prowess.

In a Republic Day message, Kalam said he was confident India with its booming economy would become a developed nation before 2020 with no poverty and 100 per cent literacy. “I visualise even before the year 2020 that a prosperous India is possible,” he said. Singh saluted Putin as a “special friend of India”. Russia “remains indispensable to the core of India’s foreign policy interests” though there has been a sea-change in the international situation during the last decade, Singh said.

It had the desired effect as Putin repeatedly nodded his head as the jointly developed BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the T-72 main battle tanks that have been purchased from Russia rolled down Rajpath during the two-hour parade.

...

The parade, commanded by Maj Gen P C Bhardwaj, featured a vast array of indigenously developed equipment like missiles, radars for locating hostile weapons and aircraft, bridge-laying tanks, a battlefield communication system based on cellular technology, a mobile decontamination facility for a nuclear, chemical and biological (NBC) environment, and an infantry combat vehicle (ICV).

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[jollyreaper2112]

1. how heartwarming

Did Punjab look into pooty's eyes and see his soul? Or was that mirthful spark a flicker of hellfire?

[knight_of_the_star]

2. India's hedging their bets

They know who is on their way out and that Russia is on the rebound. They want Russia on their side with their issues with China and Pakistan.

[physioex]

3. How wonderful....

A country with so much poverty and illiteracy can afford to spend so much on weaponery. And look at the thug Pootie Poot who has done his best to literally kill of dissenting voices.....

[Vidar]

4. US spends more on the military than the rest of the world combined.

Soon we hope to edge out India's lead in the poverty department as well.

[samsingh]

5. India's defensive capability is the only thing that has let the

country survive and kept stability in South East Asia.

a weak India is not good for democrasy.

[TheWatcher]

6. What's democrasy?