New Delhi: Just how high the Indian armed forces - the Army, Navy and Air Force - should raise their arms while marching past President Pranab Mukerjee and US President Barack Obama on Republic Day, January 26 has generated a major controversy.
The three forces, like every year, will be putting on display their best marching contingents on Rajpath - the grand boulevard in the heart of New Delhi - for President Mukherjee and President Obama who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
The Navy and Indian Air Force's marching contingents swing their arms above their shoulders and stamp their feet. But for the Army, the arms should only swing up to the shoulders in front and should be parallel to the waist belt on the swing back. Also, the officer leading the contingent should not stamp his feet at the saluting dais before giving the "eyes right" command.
Sources say the Army threw the rule book - the Defence Services Regulations, 1961 - which says troops and officers taking part in the parade are not supposed to raise their arms above the shoulder while marching. Exasperated at the refusal of the Navy and the Air Force to comply with the guidelines, the Army is understood to have said that the two forces were marching like "police" and unlike the military.
As of now, the three forces will be swinging their arms differently as they march past, saluting President Pranab Mukherjee and the visiting US President.
The three forces, like every year, will be putting on display their best marching contingents on Rajpath - the grand boulevard in the heart of New Delhi - for President Mukherjee and President Obama who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
The Navy and Indian Air Force's marching contingents swing their arms above their shoulders and stamp their feet. But for the Army, the arms should only swing up to the shoulders in front and should be parallel to the waist belt on the swing back. Also, the officer leading the contingent should not stamp his feet at the saluting dais before giving the "eyes right" command.
Sources say the Army threw the rule book - the Defence Services Regulations, 1961 - which says troops and officers taking part in the parade are not supposed to raise their arms above the shoulder while marching. Exasperated at the refusal of the Navy and the Air Force to comply with the guidelines, the Army is understood to have said that the two forces were marching like "police" and unlike the military.
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As of now, the three forces will be swinging their arms differently as they march past, saluting President Pranab Mukherjee and the visiting US President.
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