PM-designate Narendra Modi along with CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and VCAS Air Vice Marshal Amar Preet Singh laid wreath at the National War Memorial, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, to be held today at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, today.
Tag: National war memorial
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PM Modi pays tribute to fallen soldiers at National War Memorial on Republic Day
By ANI
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid floral tributes to fallen heroes at the National War Memorial on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebrations.
He led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.
The Republic Day celebrations commenced with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial.
PM Modi was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his arrival at the National War Memorial.
The Inter Services Guards were founded by 7 Soldiers from each service. This year, the guards will be commanded by an Air Force Officer, Sqn Ldr Akash Ganghas.
When the Prime Minister laid the wreath, the Inter-Services Guards presented `Salami Shastra’ followed by ‘Shok Shastra’. Simultaneously, the buglers sounded the ‘Last Post’.
PM Shri @narendramodi pays homage to the martyrs at the National War Memorial on 74th #RepublicDay. https://t.co/qSUcgVz01t
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 26, 2023
Thereafter, ‘two minutes silence’ was observed, after which the buglers played ‘Rouse’ and the guards presented ‘Salami Shastra’ again. The Prime Minister then endorsed his remarks in the digital Visitor’s Book of the National War Memorial.Later, PM Modi and other dignitaries headed to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade.
President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in celebrating Republic Day from Kartavya Path, formerly the Raj Path.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the Chief Guest at the parade, the first Egyptian premier to be invited to the occasion.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day.
“We wish to move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true.”
“Many wishes for Republic Day. This time the occasion is more special because we are celebrating it during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. I wish we move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true. Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians!” PM Modi said in his tweet in Hindi.
The week-long celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival ‘Aadi Shaurya – Parv Parakram ka’ was organised in New Delhi on January 23 and 24.
The events will culminate on January 30, which is observed as the ‘Martyrs’ Day’.
The celebrations were marked by attractive performances from ‘Vande Bharatam’ group of dancers from across the country, tales of bravery by Veer Gatha 2.0 participants, melodious performances by School Bands at the National War Memorial, first-ever e-invitations, largest-ever drone show and 3-D anamorphic projection.
The Republic Day parade, which will begin at around 1030 hrs, will be a unique mix of the country’s military prowess and cultural diversity, depicting the country’s growing indigenous capabilities, Nari Shakti and emergence of a ‘New India’.
In line with tradition, the Tricolour was unfurled, followed by the National Anthem and a booming 21-gun salute. Amongst the many firsts, the 21-gun salute was given with the 105-mm Indian Field Guns. It replaced the vintage 25 pounder gun, demonstrating ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence. Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit showered petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path.
The parade commenced with the President taking the customary salute.
Marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time was the combined Band & Marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy.
The contingent consisted of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
The first contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry was led by Captain Raizada Shaurya Bali. The 61 Cavalry is the only serving active Horse Cavalry Regiment in the world, with the amalgamation of all the ‘State Horse Units’.
Cultural performances by 479 artists chosen through the nationwide Vande Bharatam dance competition added colour to the Republic Day parade. The theme of the cultural extravaganza was ‘Nari Shakti’ presented by 326 female dancers and ably supported by 153 male dancers, in the age group of 17-30 years.
They presented classical, folk and contemporary fusion dances, depicting the ‘Power of Women’ through five elements — Earth, Water, Air, Space and Fire. This is the second time that the dancers of the cultural programme were selected through a nationwide competition.
Another highlight of the show was a thrilling motorcycle display by ‘Corps of Signals’ Dare Devils team. They enthralled the audience with an array of formations, which will also include a Yoga display.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid floral tributes to fallen heroes at the National War Memorial on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebrations.
He led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.
The Republic Day celebrations commenced with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial.
PM Modi was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his arrival at the National War Memorial.
The Inter Services Guards were founded by 7 Soldiers from each service. This year, the guards will be commanded by an Air Force Officer, Sqn Ldr Akash Ganghas.
When the Prime Minister laid the wreath, the Inter-Services Guards presented `Salami Shastra’ followed by ‘Shok Shastra’. Simultaneously, the buglers sounded the ‘Last Post’.
PM Shri @narendramodi pays homage to the martyrs at the National War Memorial on 74th #RepublicDay. https://t.co/qSUcgVz01t
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 26, 2023
Thereafter, ‘two minutes silence’ was observed, after which the buglers played ‘Rouse’ and the guards presented ‘Salami Shastra’ again. The Prime Minister then endorsed his remarks in the digital Visitor’s Book of the National War Memorial.Later, PM Modi and other dignitaries headed to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade.
President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in celebrating Republic Day from Kartavya Path, formerly the Raj Path.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the Chief Guest at the parade, the first Egyptian premier to be invited to the occasion.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day.
“We wish to move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true.”
“Many wishes for Republic Day. This time the occasion is more special because we are celebrating it during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. I wish we move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true. Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians!” PM Modi said in his tweet in Hindi.
The week-long celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival ‘Aadi Shaurya – Parv Parakram ka’ was organised in New Delhi on January 23 and 24.
The events will culminate on January 30, which is observed as the ‘Martyrs’ Day’.
The celebrations were marked by attractive performances from ‘Vande Bharatam’ group of dancers from across the country, tales of bravery by Veer Gatha 2.0 participants, melodious performances by School Bands at the National War Memorial, first-ever e-invitations, largest-ever drone show and 3-D anamorphic projection.
The Republic Day parade, which will begin at around 1030 hrs, will be a unique mix of the country’s military prowess and cultural diversity, depicting the country’s growing indigenous capabilities, Nari Shakti and emergence of a ‘New India’.
In line with tradition, the Tricolour was unfurled, followed by the National Anthem and a booming 21-gun salute. Amongst the many firsts, the 21-gun salute was given with the 105-mm Indian Field Guns. It replaced the vintage 25 pounder gun, demonstrating ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence. Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit showered petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path.
The parade commenced with the President taking the customary salute.
Marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time was the combined Band & Marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy.
The contingent consisted of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
The first contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry was led by Captain Raizada Shaurya Bali. The 61 Cavalry is the only serving active Horse Cavalry Regiment in the world, with the amalgamation of all the ‘State Horse Units’.
Cultural performances by 479 artists chosen through the nationwide Vande Bharatam dance competition added colour to the Republic Day parade. The theme of the cultural extravaganza was ‘Nari Shakti’ presented by 326 female dancers and ably supported by 153 male dancers, in the age group of 17-30 years.
They presented classical, folk and contemporary fusion dances, depicting the ‘Power of Women’ through five elements — Earth, Water, Air, Space and Fire. This is the second time that the dancers of the cultural programme were selected through a nationwide competition.
Another highlight of the show was a thrilling motorcycle display by ‘Corps of Signals’ Dare Devils team. They enthralled the audience with an array of formations, which will also include a Yoga display.
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Bid to change history: Gehlot on merger of Amar Jawan Jyoti with NWM’s eternal flame
By PTI
JAIPUR: Terming the merger of Amar Jawan Jyoti with eternal flame at the National War Memorial in New Delhi as an attempt to change history, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday questioned what was the problem for the Modi government if two different flames continued burning in honour of the martyrs.
He said a golden history is made by doing great deeds.
Gehlot said the move of extinguishing the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and merging the two is “beyond everyone’s comprehension”.
“If two different flames kept burning in honour of the martyrs, then what was the problem for the Modi government? It is an insult to martyrdom to extinguish the Amar Jawan Jyoti, which has been paying homage to the martyrs for 50 years,” Gehlot tweeted.
“Doing such misdeeds is an attempt to change history, but the Modi government should understand that such efforts do not change history, but a golden history has to be made by doing great deeds,” he said.
The chief minister said the Amar Jawan Jyoti is the memory of the soldiers who divided Pakistan into two nations.
Extinguishing it and giving it the name of “merger” is an attempt to dilute the purity of that light, he said.
“It is highly condemnable to do such an act on completion of 50 years of Bangladesh war victory,” Gehlot added.
The ruling BJP on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of trying to create an “unnecessary controversy” over the decision to extinguish Amar Jawan Jyoti and merge it with the immortal flame at the National War Memorial, and said he lacks knowledge of basic historical facts.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri noted that India Gate is a monument to Indian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in the first World War, and Amar Jawan Jyoti was lit there to commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers in the 1971 victory over Pakistan as there was no war memorial then.
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Ex-servicemen express mixed reactions on merger of Amar Jawan Jyoti with NWM’s eternal flame
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Ex-servicemen expressed mixed reactions on the Centre’s decision to extinguish and merge the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial (NWM) here on Friday.
Former Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter and requested him to rescind the decision.
“Sir, the eternal flame at India Gate is part of India’s psyche. You, I and our generation grew up saluting our brave jawans there,” he stated.
While National War Memorial is great, the memories of Amar Jawan Jyoti are indelible, Bahadur noted.
However, Former Lieutenant General Satish Dua expressed “great satisfaction” on merging the Amar Jawan Jyoti with the NWM’s eternal flame.
“As someone who had steered the design selection and construction of the NWM, I had been of this view all along that India Gate is a memorial to the fallen heroes of First World War,” Dua stated.
The Amar Jawan Jyoti was added in 1972 as we did not have another memorial, he mentioned.
The NWM pays homage to the soldiers who were killed in action after the country’s independence and all homage ceremonies have been shifted to the new memorial already, he noted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on February 25, 2019, inaugurated the NWM, where names of 25,942 soldiers have been inscribed in golden letters on granite tablets.
Former Army Chief General Ved Malik also supported the Centre’s decision to merge the flames.
He said on Twitter that it is “a natural thing” to merge flames now as the NWM has been established and all ceremonials related to remembrance and honouring soldiers killed in action are being held there.
Former Colonel Rajendra Bhaduri said the Amar Jawan Jyoti is sacred and need not be extinguished.
“India Gate has names of Indian soldiers who died in wars. It is immaterial who constructed it,” Bhaduri said on Twitter.
The Amar Jawan Jyoti was constructed as a memorial for Indian soldiers who were killed in action in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which India won, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
It was inaugurated by the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, on January 26, 1972.
Former Lieutenant General Kamal Jit Singh said on Friday that after the NWM’s inauguration, it is logical to unify both the flames.
“Rationalise multiple memorials in penny packets,” he said on Twitter.
Former Lieutenant Colonel Anil Duhoon said on Twitter that “If one can’t make it then break it” is the BJP’s mantra for new India.
He said the Amar Jawan Jyoti is too sacred to be touched or relocated.
“Why can’t they have two of them? Can’t understand their functioning,” Duhoon added.
Government sources said it was an odd thing to see that the flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti paid homage to the martyrs of the 1971 and other wars but none of their names are present there.
The names inscribed on the India Gate are of only some martyrs who fought for the British in the World War-1 and the Anglo Afghan War and thus is a symbol of our colonial past, the government sources said.
They said the names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 and wars before and after it are housed at the National War Memorial.
Hence it is a true homage to have the flame paying tribute to martyrs there, they added.
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Names of 20 ‘Galwan heroes’ inscribed on national war memorial
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The names of 20 Indian Army personnel, who were killed while valiantly fighting Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June last year, were inscribed on the National War Memorial ahead of the Republic Day, official sources said.Col B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was among the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15, an incident that marked one of the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.
China is yet to disclose the number of its soldiers killed and injured in the clash though it officially admitted to having suffered casualties.
According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35. The Galwan Valley clash had escalated the border row in eastern Ladakh and resulted in a large deployment of troops and heavy weaponry by both the armies at the friction points.
“The names of the Galwan heroes have been inscribed at the National War Memorial,” said a source.
Some of these soldiers are also likely to be honoured with gallantry awards on the Republic Day.
The Chinese soldiers used stones, nail-studded sticks, iron rods and clubs in carrying out brutal attacks on Indian soldiers after they protested the erection of a surveillance post by China around patrolling point 14 in Galwan Valley.
The Indian Army has already built a memorial for the ‘Gallants of Galwan’ at Post 120 in eastern Ladakh.
The memorial mentioned their heroics under operation ‘Snow Leopard’ and the way they evicted the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops from the area while inflicting “heavy casualties” on them.
During a visit to Lukung forward post in eastern Ladakh on July 17 last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had personally conveyed his appreciation and compliments to the troops from the Bihar regiment for displaying exemplary grit and courage in fighting the Chinese troops.
India and China are locked in a bitter military standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.
Nearly 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed in a high state of combat readiness in the mountainous region in sub-zero temperatures as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the standoff.
China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials.
Last month, India and China had held another round of diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs.
The eighth and last round of military talks between the two sides had taken place on November 6 last year during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points.
India has all along been maintaining that the onus is on China to carry forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points in the mountainous region.