Army Chief Gen M M Naravane today assured the nation that the sacrifice of bravehearts of Galwan would not go in vain. Speaking at the Army Day celebrations, at New Delhi, General Naravane said a befitting reply was given to the conspirators, who tried to unilaterally change the status quo on Northern borders. He said, more than 600 terrorists had surrendered last year and more than 200 were neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir.
The General said, no one should dare to try our Army’s patience. He informed the number of ceasefire violations went up by 44 per cent last year, which shows the nefarious designs of Pakistan.
He said under the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Army has identified 29 items for design and development with MSMEs and industry. He said the Army is taking concrete steps towards its modernisation and has tied up with IITs and other tech institutes for Drones, directed energy weapons and quantum computing.
General Naravane said, under emergency and fast-track schemes, the Army procured equipment worth about 5,000 crore rupees and signed contracts worth 13,000 crores in the last year under capital procurement.
Lauding Army’s roles in India’s fight against COVID-19, he said 113 military hospitals in the country successfully treated thousands of COVID patients.
Today marked the 73rd Army Day and the day was celebrated at Cariappa Ground in Delhi cantonment.
Earlier, Army Chief MM Naravane inspected an impressive parade at Cariappa Grounds. Army also showcased different types of tanks and missile systems at the parade. For the first time ever, Indian Army demonstrated combat swarm drones. Martyr Naik Sandeep of 10 Para Special Forces unit was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry for eliminating two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and saving the life of his squad commander.