Defence Minister on day-long Jammu visit arrives today

Jammu, Jan 13: A day after the Prime Minister’s visit to Kashmir, the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh is arriving tomorrow on a day-long visit to Jammu to attend 9th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day, being celebrated at Tanda Artillery Brigade, Akhnoor.

As per official sources, the Defence Minister will reach Jammu Technical Airport in the morning from where he’ll fly to Akhnoor to attend the event, being celebrated under the aegis of Northern Command to honour the “Armed Forces veterans and Veer Naris.”

This will be the first visit of the Defence Minister to J&K after the formation of the new government in the Union Territory.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan; Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar and GOC White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva will attend the event besides other senior military and civil officials.

Earlier the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan reached Jammu a day before the arrival of the Defence Minister. During the day, CDS also addressed an enlightening session on “Future wars and Indian Armed Forces.”

“After his arrival in Jammu, he straightway went to Akhnoor. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar and GOC White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva besides other senior officers accompanied him,” official sources said.

The Defence Minister and the CDS will leave for the union capital in the evening after the veterans’ rally event.

Approximately 1,000 veterans from Jammu, Akhnoor, Pallanwala, Rakhmuthi, Nowshera, and Sunderbani are likely to attend the Veterans’ rally.

The event will also include hoisting of a 108-feet National Flag and inauguration of Akhnoor Heritage Museum.