Indian troops to march down Champs Elysées
Jul 11, 2009 18:37:41 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2009 18:37:41 GMT
NEW DELHI: A contingent of Indian troops will march down Champs Elysées to the sound of Indian martial music, watched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is the chief guest at this year’s French National Day celebrations on July 14. Mr. Sarkozy was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade here last year.
The second batch of 270 armed forces personnel comprising marching columns and a combined military band from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy left here on Wednesday for Paris.
On Tuesday, the first batch of 130 personnel left for Paris to take part in the parade by the Indian troops, which will be commanded by Air Commodore R.K. Mathur.
‘Proud day’
The French National Day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison on July 14, 1789.
“It will be a proud day for India as our troops will march in a country where they fought during World War I,” said Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar. Indian soldiers of the British Imperial Army were in the two Allied divisions that fought the Germans around the northern French town of Neuve-Chapelle in March 1915.
India has close military and political ties with France, which recently began supplying six submarines at a cost of Rs. 15,000 crore and is a leading contender for the next order of submarines.
France backed India in ending its isolation from global civil nuclear commerce and is poised to construct two nuclear plants in western India, besides supplying uranium.
It is in the race for a $10.2-billion tender for fighter aircraft and talks are being held to modernise the Indian fleet of 50-plus French origin Mirage fighters.
Defence Secretary Vijay Singh could be accompanying the Prime Minister to hold talks on defence-related issues.
Off to France: Indian armed forces contingent members boarding an aircraft
for Paris at the Palam Air Force Station in Delhi on Wednesday
to participate in the French National Day Parade.
(from The Hindu, 10 July 2009)
On the evening news in France tonight, they had a report about this as well, showing the 400 Indian troops packing incense and food products, because they are afraid that they might not find the necessities in France...
The second batch of 270 armed forces personnel comprising marching columns and a combined military band from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy left here on Wednesday for Paris.
On Tuesday, the first batch of 130 personnel left for Paris to take part in the parade by the Indian troops, which will be commanded by Air Commodore R.K. Mathur.
‘Proud day’
The French National Day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison on July 14, 1789.
“It will be a proud day for India as our troops will march in a country where they fought during World War I,” said Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar. Indian soldiers of the British Imperial Army were in the two Allied divisions that fought the Germans around the northern French town of Neuve-Chapelle in March 1915.
India has close military and political ties with France, which recently began supplying six submarines at a cost of Rs. 15,000 crore and is a leading contender for the next order of submarines.
France backed India in ending its isolation from global civil nuclear commerce and is poised to construct two nuclear plants in western India, besides supplying uranium.
It is in the race for a $10.2-billion tender for fighter aircraft and talks are being held to modernise the Indian fleet of 50-plus French origin Mirage fighters.
Defence Secretary Vijay Singh could be accompanying the Prime Minister to hold talks on defence-related issues.
Off to France: Indian armed forces contingent members boarding an aircraft
for Paris at the Palam Air Force Station in Delhi on Wednesday
to participate in the French National Day Parade.
(from The Hindu, 10 July 2009)
On the evening news in France tonight, they had a report about this as well, showing the 400 Indian troops packing incense and food products, because they are afraid that they might not find the necessities in France...