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After Republic Day Parade, PM walks down Rajpath amidst chants of 'Modi', 'Modi'

PM steals the show again.

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 Breaking away from tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a long walk on the Rajpath to greet the spectators after the Republic Day Parade today, amid cheers and chants of "Modi, Modi".

Sporting a saffron, red and green coloured 'safa', Modi waved at the crowd enthusiastically as he walked on the Rajpath with his security personnel trying to keep pace with him and his motorcade following. The cheers grew louder as he went close to seating enclosures with the spectators waving back at him and jostling to get a glimpse of the prime minister. This is not the first time that Modi went past the security cover to greet audience. Last year, after his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, Modi moved out of his security cordon to shake hands with children.

 Unprecedented in India's history, leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries today attended the Republic Day parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country's military prowess and rich cultural diversity. This is for the first time ten heads of state attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the gathering of the leaders of the powerful grouping was being seen as reflective of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been trying to increase its strategic clout.

Thousands of people on both sides of the Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power at Raisina Hill, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableaux went past them. The ASEAN leaders, some of whom were accompanied by their spouses, watched the grand parade, sitting on a 100-foot stage along with President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi.

The 10 ASEAN leaders who attended the parade were Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Thailand Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Lao PDR's Premier Thongloun Sisoulith, Malaysian Prime Minister Nazib Razak, Brunei Darussalam's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen.

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