JAMMU, Aug 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead 79th Independence Day function from iconic Red Fort in Delhi during which success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated in a big way while invitation cards for the function are carrying water mark of Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in Reasi district of Jammu region, thrown open by the PM on June 6, depicting rise of ‘Naya Bharat’.
“The Prime Minister will unfurl the National Flag and address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument of Red Fort. As the nation is making giant strides towards realizing the Government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the theme of this year’s celebrations is Naya Bharat. The celebrations will serve as a platform to commemorate the continuing rise of a prosperous, secure & bold Naya Bharat and provide renewed power to surge on the path to progress,” an official statement issued today ahead of the Independence Day celebrations said.
The success of Operation Sindoor which lasted from May 6-10 and is still not over (as per the Government as well as the Indian Armed Forces) will be celebrated during the Independence Day function this year in the Union capital.
“View cutter at Gyanpath will have the Operation Sindoor logo. Floral decoration will also be based on the Operation,” the statement said.
It added that invitation cards are also carrying the Operation Sindoor logo and water mark of Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world which connected Kashmir by train with rest of the world, depicting the rise of ‘Naya Bharat’.
Chenab bridge, which is highest even from the Eiffel tower, was inaugurated along with Katra-Srinagar train service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 this year. Chenab bridge and Anji Khad bridge, which is first Cable Stayed railway bridge in India, have become prominent spots of tourist attractions ion Katra-Srinagar rail line where two Vande Bharat trains are currently operating.
The Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Indian Armed Forces from May 6-10 destroying terror camps and military bases deep inside Pakistan and PoJK. Hundreds of terrorists and their mentors were killed in the operation which was carried out in retaliation to April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a civilian were killed.
Shortly after the statement, Army’s social media handles carried a message with a poster that has now become a defining image of Operation Sindoor.
The poster had ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ written on it with a small bowl carrying vermilion (worn by married Hindu women) forming the first ‘O’ of the second word, while the second ‘O’ had a dash of the powder around it.
The bilingual — Hindi and English — invitation cards for I-Day anniversary celebrations carry this image on the top right corner of the invite, while the silhouetted image of the Chenab bridge, the world’s tallest railway arch bridge, sits at the lower side of the cards, which are largely being issued online via ‘Aamantran’ website of the Ministry of Defence.
According to a recent edition of the India Army’s magazine ‘Baatcheet’ dedicated to Operation Sindoor, the logo of the military action was designed by Lt Col Harsh Gupta and Havildar Surinder Singh.
The e-invitation card also carries a list of fundamental duties of a citizen as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The Prime Minister had during inauguration of Chenab rail bridge stated that the structure stands as a “testament to India’s ambition.”
He also observed that while people travel to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge surpasses it in height, making it not only a crucial infrastructure achievement but also an emerging tourist attraction.
Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, the Prime Minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar to the Prime Minister. The GOC, Delhi Area will then conduct Narendra Modi to the saluting base where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present general salute to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour.
The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister will consist of 96 personnel (one officer & 24 personnel each from the Army, Navy, Air Force & Delhi Police. The Indian Air Force is the coordinating service for the Independence Day celebrations this year. The Guard of Honour will be commanded by Wing Commander AS Sekhon.
The Army contingent in the Prime Minister’s Guard will be commanded by Major Arjun Singh, the Naval contingent by Lieutenant Commander Komaldeep Singh and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Rajan Arora. The Delhi Police contingent will be commanded by Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh.
After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he will be greeted by Rajnath Singh, Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
