New Delhi: Amid tight security, India celebrated its 68th Independence day on Friday. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the National Flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort. After unfurling the Tricolour, Narendra Modi addressed the nation extempore for about an hour.
On arrival at Lahore Gate of Red Fort, the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and Defence Secretary RK Mathur, received the Prime Minister.
The Defence Secretary introduced the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Subroto Mitra to the Prime Minister. The GoC Delhi Area then conducted the Prime Minister to the Saluting Base where a combined Inter-Services and Police Guards presented general salute to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, Narendra Modi inspected the Guard of Honour.
The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister consisted of one officer and 24 men each from Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police. The Guard of Honour was positioned directly in front of the National Flag across the moat below the ramparts.
This year, Army being the coordinating Service, the Guard of Honour was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Anoop Kumar Yadav from the Indian Army. The Army Contingent in the Prime Ministers Guard was commanded by Major Sankalp Rathore, the Navy contingent by Lieutenant Cdr Abhishek Dubey, while Sqn Ldr NS Praveen led the Air Force contingent and the Delhi Police contingent by SDPO Ingit Pratap Singh.
According to Defence Spokesperson S.D.Goswami, the Army contingent for Prime Minister’s Guard was drawn from the 8th Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (Siachen).
After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister proceeded to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he was greeted by Defence Minister, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan.
The unfurling of the tricolor was synchronized with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the gunners of the elite 871 Field Regiment. The ceremonial battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonol Vijay Kumar Shah.
The Army contingent for the National Flag Guard was drawn from the 9th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles.
After the Prime Minister’s address, school children and NCC Cadets sang the National Anthem. Seven hundred cadets of the National Cadet Corps from the Delhi Directorate comprising Army, Navy and Air Force wings participated in the flag hoisting ceremony this year. Three thousand five hundred girl students from 42 government schools of northern, eastern, central and north-eastern zones of Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi sang the National Anthem. They also sang patriotic songs in different regional languages during the celebrations.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
