Indian Army Day: CDS, Service Chiefs pay tribute at war memorial

New Delhi:Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat along with Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday paid tribute at the National War Memorial (NWM) here on the occasion of the 72nd Army Day.Along with CDS and Army Chief, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh also paid tribute here.

On the occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, ''On Army Day, greetings to the valiant men and women of the Indian Army, to veterans and to their families. You are our nation's pride, the sentinels of our liberty. Your immense sacrifice has secured our sovereignty, brought glory to our nation and protected our people. Jai Hind!''

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter, ''On the occasion of Army Day, I salute to all the soldiers for their courage, valour and heroism. Our Army is respected for its humanitarian spirit. Whenever people have needed help, our Army has risen to the occasion and done everything possible! Proud of our Army.''

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet, ''On Army Day today, I salute all valiant Indian Army personnel and recall with pride their indomitable spirit, valour and sacrifices in making India a safer place.''Every year on January 15 the nation celebrates Army Day as it was on this day that the first Indian General took charge of the Indian Army.''

General KM Cariappa (later Field Marshal) took charge to lead the Army in 1949 from General Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India.(UNI)