New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating this historic 75th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 2021. He will unfurl the national flag and traditionally address the nation. It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister started the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in March 2021 to celebrate the 75th year of India’s independence. The celebrations will continue till August 15, 2023.
The Prime Minister will be received by Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defense Shri Ajay Bhatt and Defense Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar on his arrival at Red Fort. The Defense Secretary, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Region, Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Mishra will introduce the AVSM to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the GOC of Delhi Region will escort Shri Narendra Modi to the saluting base, where a joint Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will give a general salute to the Prime Minister. After this, the Prime Minister will inspect the salute guard of honour. The Guard of Honor contingent for the Prime Minister will consist of one officer and 20 personnel each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.
After inspecting the Guard of Salute, Prime Minister Modi will proceed to the Red Fort ramparts where he will be received by Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defense Shri Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral. Karambir Singh and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R. Of. s. Bhadauria will do. The GOC of Delhi region will take the Prime Minister to the ramparts stage to unfurl the national flag. National salute will be given to the tricolor after unfurling the flag. The naval band, consisting of 16 people, will hoist the national flag and play the national anthem during the national salute. The band will be conducted by MCPO Vincent Johnson.
Lt. Commander P. Priambada Sahu will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the national flag. This will be synchronized with a 21-gun salute fired by the brave gunners of the ELITE 2233 Field Battery (Formal). The National Flag Guard, consisting of five officers and 130 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police, will deliver the national salute when the Prime Minister unfurls the National Flag. Indian Navy Commander Kuldeep M. Neralkar will command the Inter-Services Guard and the Police Guard.
The Naval contingent in the National Flag Guard will be commanded by Lieutenant Commander Praveen Saraswat, the Army contingent will be commanded by Major Anshul Kumar and the Air Force contingent will be commanded by Squadron Leader Rohit Malik. The Delhi Police team will be commanded by Additional DCP (South West District) Amit Goel. Thirty-two Olympic winners including javelin thrower Subedar, India’s first gold medalist in track and field Neeraj Chopra along with two Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials have been invited to attend the ceremony at the Red Fort. Around 240 Olympians, support staff and officials from SAI and Sports Federation have also been invited to grace the Gyan Path in front of the ramparts. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets will sing the National Anthem at the conclusion of the Prime Minister’s address to the nation.