AFTER BENGAL, KERALA, TN TABLEAU REJECTED
NEW DELHI: The military fly past at the Republic Day parade will feature formations to commemorate some glorious moments of India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, including the historic Tangail airdrop and the Meghna operation, apart from showcasing the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities, officials familiar with the matter said on Monday.
As many as 75 different aircraft from the IAF, army and navy will take part in the January 26 flying display, including Rafales, Sukhoi-30s, Jaguars, C-130J special operations aircraft, Mi-35 gunships, MIG-29K maritime fighters and P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, IAF officials said at a press preview of the fly past.
“It will be the largest and grandest display,” an official said. The flying display is the highlight of India’s biggest ceremonial parade. India is celebrating the 75th year of its Independence this year.
The indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft and the Mirage 2000 jets are not taking part in the parade as single-engine aircraft are normally not permitted to fly over Rajpath though Tejas made its debut at the 2017 parade.
The Tangail formation will feature a vintage Dakota aircraft along with two Dornier 228 aircraft, the officials said. The Tangail airdrop north of Dhaka – the biggest airborne operation mounted by Indian paratroopers – set the stage for surrender by the Pakistani army.
The aim of the operation was to capture the Poongli bridge on Jamalpur-tangail-dhaka road and the ferry site on Louhajang river to intercept the Pakistani army’s 93 Brigade that was retreating from the north to defend Dhaka. Around 750 men of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment were involved in the successful mission.
The paratroopers defeated a force three times superior and shattered the will of the Paki
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI/KOLKATA: After Kerala and West Bengal, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Monday expressed disappointment over Centre rejecting the state tableau for the Republic Day celebrations and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s immediate intervention in the matter.
In a letter to the PM, Stalin said, “Excluding the tableau will deeply hurt the sentiments and patriotic feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu.” “That the expert committee chooses to ignore and reject all the seven designs shown to it as per the modifications suggested by its members is unacceptable,” the CM said, alleging the state was not called for the fourth round of meeting.
A central government spokesperson, however, said it is a “wrong precedent” adopted by the chief ministers, who don’t have any “positive” agenda and is aimed at creating “flash point” between Centre and states.