Faux pas? UP Education Minister says India celebrating its 59th Republic Day

ALIGARH: Uttar Pradesh Mister of State for Education Sandeep Singh made a fauz pas on Friday when during the parade, he said that the country is celebrating its 59th Republic Day. 

India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on Friday with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with ten ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first.

In 2015, the Maharashtra administration had come under scanner for a similar mistake when on a banner at the site of the Republic Day celebration in Mumbai, '65th Republic Day' was written instead of '66th Republic Day'. From the Governor to the Chief Minister, several politicians, diplomats and senior serving and retired government officials had also been present at the event.

Military prowess and cultural heritage was on ample display at Rajpath on the 69th Republic Day. During the parade, a special applause was reserved for a contingent of BSF's women daredevils on motorcycles who stole the limelight with their incredibly brave stunts. The squad - named Seema Bhavani - consisted of 113 women soldiers of BSF aged between 25 and 30 years.

They were specially chosen from different ranks of BSF and trained on 350cc Royal Enfield bikes to become the first-ever women bikers' contingent at the Republic Day parade. Led by Sub-Inspector Stanzin Noryang, 28, the women showed just why they are no less than their male counterparts as they performed a number of stunts on Friday to get a rousing and standing ovation from a cheering crowd. Even the dignitaries were visibly impressed.