The French Embassy in New Delhi issued a statement that read: “It is not the first time that a French representation overseas has received this kind of letter. It’s a single page letter”, said Additional Commissioner of Police KSR Reddy while addressing the media.
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The state of emergency in France is likely to be extended beyond the end of February, the head of French parliament said on Wednesday, citing French President Francois Hollande. On Tuesday, Hollande is expected to be the guest of honour at a two-hour military parade for India’s Republic Day, marking 66 years since the South Asian country adopted its constitution. “On the Ukranian side there needs to be constitutional reform, while on the Russian side they need to put pressure to organise undisputed elections in the east”, Hollande said. 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. The world is confronted with its biggest geostrategic challenge in the shape of the Islamic State (IS), which has emerged as a major threat to peace and security around the world and whose agents have already carried out numerous attacks in France, the U.S. and many other countries. “That is creating a change in the way nuclear negotiations are being conducted”, he said. The visiting dignitary will visit famous Rock Garden, and thereafter, address a CEOs forum along with Prime Minister Modi.
The president also announced a visit to Egypt, Jordan and Oman, without giving a date, saying: “We must do everything to work together for stability in the region”. France has reportedly agreed in-principle to that stipulation “in the future”, a move that has helped both sides side-step this potentially contentious requirement for the moment.
On the evening of January 25, President Pranab Mukherjee will host a banquet for him at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
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Last year, the United States President Barack Obama was invited as the chief guest on the Republic Day. French nuclear giant Areva SA and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India agreed in 2010 to build the 9,900-megawatt facility, but progress has been slow amid disputes over land rights and Indian laws on accident liability.
