France Ambassador to India Francois Richier on Friday said France President François Hollande’s second visit to India would be a great occasion to strengthen India-France relations.
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France has said security will be high on the agenda after deadly Islamist attacks in Paris in November that evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and a recent militant strike on India’s Pathankot air base. “As the time is just of 15 minutes to show such things to the Hollande and Modi, a team of the National Museum of New Delhi has categorized the items, to be shown dignitaries in quick manner”, said sources in the Chandigarh administration.
President Hollande and Prime Minister Modi will also address the India-French Business Summit on the same day.
On Republic Day, Hollande will attend the parade as chief guest, which will be followed by a private lunch with French and Indian celebrities. Home Minister Rajnath Singh convened a meeting with top intelligence and investigation officials last Saturday to discuss the threat of a “lone wolf” ISIS sympathiser launching an attack during the parade, the Press Trust of India reported.
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Prior to Laurent’s comments, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France would “use all means” at its disposal to combat terrorism “until we can get rid of Daesh”, an acronym for Islamic State. He is expected to pay a visit to the prominent landmarks including Capitol Complex, Sector 17 Plaza, Tagore Theatre and Rock Garden. “Its a threat saying French President must not come to India”. “It is a single-page letter with a map of India in the background. What would they [the people] tell us?” said first secretary of the Socialist Party Jean-Christophe Cambadélis. Designed in the 1950s by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, Chandigarh is one of three cities that France has pledged to help develop as so-called “smart cities” – with clean water supplies, efficient sewage disposal and public transportation, among other programs. “The same number of buildings were shut down partially or completely before 2015’s Republic Day celebrations too, in which US President Barack Obama was the chief guest”. Post that both leaders will be travelling to Gwal Pahari, Gurgaon to lay the foundation stone of the Interim Secretariat of International Solar Alliance.
