New Delhi, January 20 – New Delhi is ready to wow US President Barack Obama and the world with its grand plan for the upcoming Republic Day celebration. From nuclear to women power, from Namami Gange to 3D tactical radars and from Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna to showcasing India as a construction hub,
The Capital will offer a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the country’s future and its rich cultural heritage on Rajpath. The 66th Republic Day celebration promises to be like none before in terms of scale, size and vision, confide top sources in the ministry of defence.
President Pranab Mukherjee will award Major Mukund Varadarajan, the nation’s highest gallantry award (not in declared war) the Ashok Chakra, posthumously in the presence of Obama. The awards committee is deliberating on gallantry post August 15 and will decide on January 25 if there will be a second Ashok Chakra awarded on the Republic Day.
The award ceremony will be followed by the display of India’s military power. “India will showcase its missiles ranging from the Brahmos supersonic cruise to the indigenously-developed Akash (for Army).
With a war cry of Bol Bajrang Bali ki Jai, the indigenously-developed 3D tactical control radar that can scan up to 90 kilometre will be on display,” sources said. The Army and the Navy have a contingent of women officers and cadets who will march past Rajpath.
Both the contingents comprise 148 lady officers each, 144 in the marching contingent, two second in command and one contingent commander each. “The aim is to showcase the contribution of women in nation-building from Rani Lakshmi Bai to Panna Dhai,” sources said.
With ‘Make in India’ a prominent theme, the Navy will showcase INS Kolkata, a Kolkata class guided missile destroyer. “India and the US are in advanced stages of negotiating high-end technology and capability-sharing in ship building.
The Navy will also showcase Boeing manufactured long-range surveillance, anti-ship and submarine maritime reconnaissance aircraft the P8 I. There will be two MiG-29 K fighters on either wing flying in Vic formation,” sources added.
Bullet trains and women power will be the dream showcased by the Indian Railways through a tableau. Gujarat is going big with the Statue of Unity – the 182 metre statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Uttarakhand will showcase the rebuilding of Kedarnath Dham. PM Modi’s smart cities and India as a construction hub will also be on display. Close to Modi’s heart, the Namami Gange project – cleaning of the river, its journey from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar will be displayed through flowers.
The power ministry will showcase India’s leap forward in nuclear energy, paying tribute to visionary nuclear scientist Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The IAF will showcase 50 years of India’s spectacular victory over Pakistan in the 1965 war.
-INDIA TODAY
