Granddaughter of 1965 war hero, son of Army veteran: Meet R-Day parade contingent commanders
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New Delhi (PTI): For Lt Amit Choudhary, a second-generation army officer, who will lead a contingent of mixed scouts in the Republic Day Parade on the Kartavya Path, it will both be a personal milestone and a nostalgic nod to his father who was part of the ceremonial parade in 1990.
Dressed up in characteristic multi-layer suits teamed with special boots and polarised sunglasses meant for high terrain and harsh weather, he and his contingent members on Friday took part in the full dress rehearsal of the parade amid rains.
The young officer from Arunachal Scouts, along with leaders of several other Army contingents, which will be part of the prestigious event here, shared their experiences during a media interaction held on the premises of a military unit near the India Gate, after the rehearsal.
"I have always dreamt of being part of the parade. As a boy, I used to watch the parade on TV, and march in the room at our home. My father was in the Republic Day Parade in 1990, and he was part of the Brigade of the Guards contingent," he said.
Ahead of the interaction, Major General Navraj Dhillon, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, told reporters on Friday that a "special Army tableau" themed on the Integrated Operation Centre which will "commemorate Operation Sindoor" and depict "our strategic planning process" will also be part of the military display.
Also, a mixed Scouts contingent in operational role, and five other marching contingents of the Army represented by the Rajput Regiment, Assam Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Regiment of Artillery and Bhairav Battalion, will be part of the parade.
The defence assets that will be showcased will include BrahMos, Akash missile system, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Dhanush artillery gun, Shaktiban Regiment, Divyastra Battery, Universal Rocket Launcher System 'Suryastra', unmanned ground vehicles and a static display of some drones, mounted on various platforms.
Marking a first, the contingent members of the mounted 61 Cavalry will be seen in battle gear, and key Army assets, including indigenous platforms accompanied with personnel, will roll down the Kartavya Path in a "phased battle array formation".
A common thread running among many contingent commanders is that multiple generations of their families have served in the armed forces, including fighting in wars.
Capt Samira Z Buttar, who will lead the contingent representing the Integrated Operation Centre, says she is both filled with pride and humbled to receive this honour.
"I am a fourth-generation army officer. My father, grandfather (Brig Sampuran Singh) and great-grandfather, all have served in the army. And, now it's feel special to have the honour to walk the Kartavya Path as part of the parade," she told PTI.
The young officer said, her grandfather had fought in the 1965 war, and received two gallantry awards -- "a Maha Vir Chakra and a Vir Chakra".
"Also, our Integrated Operation Centre tableau is something very unique and it will be a surprise element for spectators on the day of the parade," she said.
Capt Ahaan Kumar, 26, will lead the contingent of the iconic 61 Cavalry at the parade, mounted on his charger ‘Ranveer’.
Grandson of a war veteran and son of Lt Gen Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, who will be the Parade Commander, he and his Hanoverian breed steed had played the same role in the 2025 parade too.
"Last year, we wore our ceremonial uniform and carried a sword. This time, we are seen in our battle gear, so it feels like a new experience in this parade too," he told PTI.
Eighteen marching contingents and 13 bands will take part in the parade that will last around 90 minutes.
An animal contingent comprising Zanskar ponies, Bactrian camels, raptors (kites) and Army dogs will also be part of the parade.
Captain Harshita Raghav, who will lead the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) contingent, said, "These animals are soldiers of the Indian Army only. In fact, they are the silent warriors."
"Making them operationally ready, and understanding the requirements of operations from these animals are two very important aspects. They are true force multipliers of the Indian Army," she told PTI.
Raghav, a native of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, said her father served in the Indian Air Force, and she is "among the first batch of women officers at the RVC".
Capt Vikas Yadav, a third-generation army officer, who will lead a contingent that will include equipment such as unmanned ground vehicles, is serving in the 4th battalion of 1 Gurkha Rifles.
"These unmanned ground vehicles are used for surveillance and logistics purposes, and can also self-navigate. They can carry mission-oriented payload, and weapons, and can be used for purposes such as bunker busting, where there is a threat to a human or animal combatant's life," he said.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
