Hollande to be chief guest at R Day celebrations next year

French President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year.

Though there is no official announcement -either from India or France- regarding Hollande being the chief guest at the Republic Day, it is understood that the invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the French president was extended last month and it has been accepted.

The acceptance was conveyed by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius during his day-long visit here yesterday.

Significantly, the news about Hollande's January visit comes shortly after the deadly attack in Paris last week that left at least 130 people dead and several others injured.

A state of emergency has also been declared in Paris for three months after the terror strikes. Hollande had cancelled trip to Turkey for the G20 summit earlier this week.

This year's Republic Day Parade saw United States President Barack Obama as the chief guest, who was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Image: Prime Minister and President Francois Hollande of France at the Joint Press Interaction in Paris in this photograph taken in April.