PARIS: The Indian army contingent marched to the beats of ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’ at the same time as a praise of Rafale fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in a flypast over the Champs-Elysees on the Bastille Day Parade. The Punjab Regiment led the march and was adopted by the Indian Navy after which the Air Force because the left their mark on the annual parade to mark the historic fall of the Bastille in 1789. The Punjab Regiment was led by Captain Aman Jagtap whie the Indian naval contingent was led by Commander Vrat Baghel. The Indian Air Force contingent was commanded by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on the occasion because the Guest of Honour, took the salute from the Indian contingent as they marched on the Champs-Elysees. In a second to savour for India, the IAF Rafales streaked the skies over Champs-Elysees, leaving the viewers in awe.
French President Emmanuel Macron, First Lady Brigitte Macron, topped the dignitaries attending the Bastille Day Military Parade on Friday. The French fighters, which led the flypast, left a path of smoke within the colors of the French nationwide flag — purple, blue and white, leaving the skies of Champs-Elysees bathing in its afterglow.
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Both the Indian and French troops marched with trumpets and drums. Macron acquired the Guard of Honour upon his arrival forward of the army parade. Ahead of the parade, PM Modi and the French President shared a heat hug because the latter arrived for the Bastille Day parade at Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Champs-Élysées was gilded within the colors of the French Flag.
This 12 months additionally marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the strategic partnership between the 2 international locations. The Bastille Day Parade is the spotlight of celebrations of the day that marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille jail, an historical royal fortress in 1789 through the French Revolution.
This 12 months the Bastille Day Parade had 6,300 troopers in numerous marching contingents. This included a tri-services contingent of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indian Army was represented by the Punjab Regiment. The troops of the Regiment have participated in each World Wars, having been awarded 18 Battle and Theatre Honours within the first conflict.
The Punjab Regiment participated in an offensive close to Neuve Chapelle in France in September 1915 throughout World War One. The regiment additionally gained 16 Battle Honours and 14 Theatre Honours within the Second World War. Earlier, the Ministry of Defence, in a press launch, acknowledged, “The Indian Army contingent comprising of 77 marching personnel and 38 members of the Band is being led by Captain Aman Jagtap. Indian Navy contingent is being led by Commander Vrat Baghel and the Indian Air Force contingent is by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy. The Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will also form part of the flypast during the parade.”
It added, “The Army contingent is being represented by the Punjab Regiment which is one of the oldest Regiments of the Indian Army. The troops of the Regiment have participated in both the World Wars as well as the post-independence operations.”
