New Delhi: Sindhu Reddy, a helicopter pilot, will lead the Indian Air Force's marching contingent at the upcoming Bastille Day parade in Paris next week, officials said on Thursday. The prestigious event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the guest of honour, PTI reported.
According to the officials, the marching contingents of the Army, the Navy, and the IAF will participate in the parade along with their French counterparts.
The officials said Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy, a Mi-17 pilot, will lead the 68-member IAF contingent at the parade. She also led the IAF's marching contingent at the Republic Day parade on January 26 as well.
Earlier in the day, a 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian armed forces left for Paris on board two C-17 Globemaster aircraft, the officials said.
Four Rafale fighter jets of the IAF will also take part in the flypast over the Champs Elysees on the occasion along with French jets, as per the agency.
''The parade will witness a 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts. The contingent has left for France today,'' the Army said in a statement.
According to the Army, the association of the Indian and French armies dates back to the First World War. ''Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war and almost 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches to never return, while another 67,000 were wounded,'' the statement said.
The Indian troops valiantly fought on French soil also. ''Their courage, valour and supreme sacrifice not only thwarted the enemy but also significantly contributed towards winning the war,'' it said.
''Later, World War 2 witnessed a whopping 2.5 million Indian soldiers making significant contributions in various theatres of the war from Asia to Africa and Europe,'' it added.
The tri-services contingent comprised 77 marching personnel from the Army and 38 members from its band. The team is being led by Captain Aman Jagtap.
The Indian Navy contingent is being led by Commander Vrat Baghel, while the Army contingent is being represented by the Punjab Regiment which is one of the oldest regiments of the force. The Rajputana Rifles Regiment band is accompanying the contingent.