India’s Tri-services Contingent Leaves for Paris to Participate in Bastille Day Parade

A three-service contingent of 269 members of the Indian Armed Forces on Thursday left for Paris to take part in next week’s Bastille Day parade that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend as the guest of honour.

Three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will also fly over the Champs-Elysées on this occasion, along with French aircraft.

“The military parade will see 269 personnel from the Tri-Services unit of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts. The battalion left for France today,” the army said.

The history of the engagement of the Indian and French armies dates back to the First World War.

The army said in a statement that “more than 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war and about 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches in order to never return, while another 67,000 were injured.”

Indian forces fought valiantly on French soil as well.

The statement read: “Their courage, valor, and supreme sacrifice not only thwarted the enemy, but also contributed greatly to winning the war.”

“Later, World War II saw the infusion of 2.5 million Indian soldiers who made significant contributions in various war theaters from Asia to Africa and Europe,” she added.

The Tri-Service Unit consisted of 77 Army personnel and 38 Division members. The team is led by Captain Aman Jagtap.

The Indian Naval Division is led by Cmdr. Furat Baghel and Squadron Leader Sindu Reddy the Indian Air Force unit.

The army battalion is represented by the Punjab Regiment which is one of the oldest regiments of the force. The regiment’s troops participated in both world wars as well as post-independence operations.

The band is accompanied by the Rajputana Rifles.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)