In a first, Indian Army shifts Army Day Parade location from New Delhi to Bengaluru; Gen Manoj Pande addresses the force

Bengaluru, Jan 16: In a first, shifting from the national capital at New Delhi, the Indian Army Day Parade was organized at Bengaluru, on Jan 15 (Sunday). While addressing the event and emphasizing that the Army has maintained a strong defence posture at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande ascertained that the force is ready to tackle any contingency.

 

 

 

 

The Army chief's remarks came almost a month after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops on the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector on Dec 9. "In the northern border areas, the situation has been normal and through established protocols and existing mechanisms, necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace. Maintaining a strong defence posture at LAC, we are ready to tackle any contingency," Pande said while speaking at the Army Day event here at Govindaswami Drill Square ground.

 

 

 

 

 

"Despite difficult areas and rough weather, our brave jawans are deployed there. All kinds of arms, equipment and facilities are being given to them in adequate quantity. With combined efforts of local admin, other agencies and military there've been improvements in infra development," he said. Gen Pande also launched a scathing remark against Pakistan in a veiled attack, saying there has been a significant decline in "ceasefire violations in the border areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in the western border of the country while terror infrastructure is still intact across the border".

 

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"Ceasefire continues at LOC in western border areas and ceasefire violations have been brought down. But across the border, terror infrastructure still remains. Our counter-infiltration grid is continuously foiling the infiltration from there," said the Army chief. Addressing the gathering, the Army Chief also talked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir saying the people have rejected violence and welcomed the positive changes by participating enthusiastically in government initiatives. He said, "Improvements have been seen in the areas inside Jammu and Kashmir as the local population has rejected violence, and welcoming positive changes enthusiastically participated in all government initiatives."