New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today unfurled the National Flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort to celebrate the 66th Independence Day.
The unfurling of the tricolour synchronised
with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 871 Field Regiment (SHINGO).
The Naval Band played National Anthem when the National Guard presented ‘Rashtriya Salute’ while unfurling of the National Flag by the Prime Minister.
Present at the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort were Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, several ministers of the Union Cabinet, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and senior BJP leader L K Advani. After unfurling the National Flag, the Prime Minister addressed the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The address was followed by singing of the National Anthem by school children and NCC Cadets. As many as 3,500 girl students from 40 government and government-aided schools under the Directorate of Education, National Capital Territory of Delhi sang the National Anthem. They also sang patriotic songs in different regional languages before the Independence Day ceremony started. Earlier, on arrival at Lahore Gate of Red Fort, the Prime Minister was received by Defence Minister A K Antony, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma.
The Defence Secretary introduced the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, Lt General Vijay Kumar Pillai to the Prime Minister. The GoC Delhi area then conducted the Prime Minister to the Saluting Base where a combined Inter-Services and Police Guard presented general salute to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, Dr Singh inspected the Guard of Honour. The National Flag Guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police presented Rashtriya Salute at the time of unfurling of the National Flag by the Prime Minister.
Commander Siji Jacob from Indian Navy was in command of this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard. The Naval Contingent for the National Flag Guard was commanded by Lt Cdr Rajesh Agnihotri, the Army contingent by Major Vivek Kumar, Air Force contingent by Sqn Ldr Jimmy Johnson and Delhi Police contingent by Additional DCP Pankaj Kumar Singh. Two Naval Officers, Lt Ravikant Shukla and Lt Manish Chowdhary were positioned on either side of the saluting dais for the PM for ADC duties. Lt Commander Arunima Raja assisted the Prime Minister in unfurling of the National Flag. About 700 cadets of the National Cadet Corps from the Delhi Directorate comprising Army, Navy and Air Force wings participated in the flag hoisting ceremony this year. The cadets also participated in the singing of patriotic songs along with the school children.
