New Delhi: Four veterans of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army, all aged over 90 years, participated in the country’s 70th Republic Day celebrations. This was the first time that INA soldiers will take part in a Republic Day parade.
Aged between 97 and 100, all former soldiers are residents of nearby areas of Delhi.
The veterans were seated in an open jeep and were preceded and succeeded by various contingents of the armed forces.
The oldest soldier, Bhagmal, is 100 years old. He joined and fought for INA in 1942 and now lives Manesar, Haryana. The other three members include Lalti Ram, 98, from Panchkula, Hira Singh, 97, from Narnaul in Haryana and Parmanand Yadav from Chandigarh.
Asked why only four soldiers of INA are taking part in the parade, Major General Rajpal Poonia, Parade Deputy Commander, said it was difficult to find members of the INA who are still alive.