Karnataka first to host 75th Army Day Parade

The state owes it to India’s first Army Chief Field Marshal K M Cariappa

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The stage is set for the 75th Army Day Parade on January 15 to be held in the city. This is the first such event taking place outside the national capital. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande will attend the event.

“Karnataka became the first State to host this mega national event for the first time outside Delhi , since the first Army Chief Field Marshal K M Cariappa took command of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Roy Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949, thus becoming the first Indian Commander-in-Chief post-independence,” Parade Commander Major General Ravi Murugan told reporters.

According to him, the programme will start with laying a wreath by Major General Pande at the Madras Engineering War Memorial as tribute to those who made sacrifices for the nation.

The parade will witness 8 contingents including a mounted contingent from the Army Service Corps and a military band comprising 5 regimental bands, Murugan said. Major General Murugan added that the parade will be supported by a fly-past of Army aviation Dhruv and Rudra helicopters.  

“In addition, various weapon systems held in the Army's inventory will be on display. They include K9 Vajra self-propelled guns, Pinaka rockets, T-90 tanks, BMP- 2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Tunguska Air Defence System.