While the rest of the country celebrated the 77th Republic Day with grand displays of heritage and military might, the political atmosphere in West Bengal remained tense. State BJP President and MP Samik Bhattacharya used the occasion to launch a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress government, claiming that the Constitution has effectively ceased to exist in the state.
"Is the Constitution even being followed in West Bengal?", asked Bhattacharya on Monday. He alleged a "total breakdown of constitutional machinery", describing the current situation as a "chilling message to the nation." He called on the constitutional custodians to intervene immediately, framing the state’s political climate as a direct affront to the democratic values being celebrated across the country.
His comments stood in sharp contrast to the ceremonial unity on display in New Delhi. At the Kartavya Path, President Droupadi Murmu presided over the national celebrations, joined by Chief Guests Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the day by paying tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial, accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the top brass of the armed forces.
The parade itself was a showcase of both tradition and modernisation. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) made a significant impact this year; their brass band, led by Inspector Shamsher Lal, marched to the tune of "Desh Ke Hum Hain Rakshak." In a historic first, the CRPF marching contingent of 248 personnel was led by two women officers, Assistant Commandants Simran Bala and Surabhi Ravi, highlighting a major shift toward gender inclusivity in the country's internal security forces.
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