New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted citizens on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, wishing that the celebrations further strengthen efforts to uphold the ideals of the Indian Constitution. “Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity,” Modi said in a post on X. “May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India,” he added.
Later, Modi paid respects at the National War Memorial in the Capital, leading the nation in honouring fallen soldiers. Escorted by the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs, the prime minister laid a wreath, after which the Guard Commander called for “Salami Shastra,” followed by “Shok Shastra,” and buglers sounded the “Last Post.” Dignitaries observed a two-minute silence in memory of the martyrs, concluded by the buglers’ “Rouse” call.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh received Modi at the memorial, where the prime minister also signed the Visitors’ Book before departing for the saluting dais at Kartavya Path. Inaugurated by Modi in 2019, the National War Memorial is dedicated to personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during various wars and missions, including the 1962 India-China War, the India-Pak Wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971, the 1999 Kargil Conflict, and UN peacekeeping operations. Spanning 40 acres in the India Gate complex, the memorial comprises four concentric circles—‘Amar Chakra,’ ‘Veerta Chakra,’ ‘Tyag Chakra,’ and ‘Rakshak Chakra’—with the names of 25,942 soldiers inscribed in golden letters, along with a central obelisk, an eternal flame, and six bronze murals depicting famous battles.