Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay respects at War Memorial
National War Memorial has a layout of four landscaped concentric circles spread over 40 acres.
New Delhi: For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay respects to the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial on the Republic Day and not at the Amar Jawan Jyoti beneath the India Gate arch.
National War Memorial built to honour Indian soldiers, who fell while defending the country after Independence, was dedicated to the nation in February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the National War Memorial on January 26 morning, before the commencement of the Republic Day Parade, and lay a wreath at the memorial in the presence of three services chiefs and the chief of the defence staff," said a senior army official.
Names of 26,700 armed forces men from three services who died in the service of the nation after 15th August, 1947 is inscribed on the walls of the Memorial in golden letters. Now all the wreath laying ceremonies to honour the Indian soldiers are held at the National War Memorial and not at the India Gate.
National War Memorial has a layout of four landscaped concentric circles spread over 40 acres. At the Centre is The Amar Chakra (circle of immortality) which has an obelisk with "eternal flame". Veer Chakra (circle of bravery), a covered gallery that exhibits six murals crafted in bronze depicting valiant battle of the armed forces.