Flypast, Showering of Petals to Thank COVID-19 Warriors: CDS Rawat

File image of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.

(Photo: PTI)

Amid the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and the three service chiefs addressed a press conference to express gratitude to the COVID-19 warriors.

“On behalf of armed forces, we want to thank all COVID-19 warriors. Doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police, home guards, delivery boys and the media, who have been reaching out with the message of government on how to carry on with lives in difficult times,” General Rawat said.

He said that on Sunday, there will be some special activities that the nation will get to witness.

The Air Force will conduct a flypast from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and another one starting from Dibrugarh in Assam to Kutch in Gujarat. It'll include both transport and fighter aircraft.

‘There Will Be No Let-Up in Anti-Terror Ops’

“The Army, on its part, will conduct mountain band displays along some of the COVID hospitals in almost every district of our country. The armed forces will also lay wreath at the police memorial on 3 May in support of our police forces.”

CDS Rawat, as quoted by ANI

“The Navy will have its warships deployed in formations in coastal areas in the evening on 3 May. Navy warships would also be lit up and their choppers would be used for showering petals on hospitals,” he added.

Rawat added that there will be no let-up in our operations against terrorism or infiltration.

“Our police personnel are doing their job very well and they are deployed in the red zone. They are capable of undertaking actions in red zones also. No need has been felt for military deployment so far,” Rawat said.

PM Modi Welcomes Announcement

Hours after the announcements by the Chief of Defence Staff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the announcements stating that now “Armed Forces are saying a big thank you to our frontline COVID-19 warriors for their endeavour towards making India COVID-19 free.”

Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter on Saturday to compliment the Armed Forces and the CDS ‘for their decision to thank the Corona Warriors’ and said that it would greatly boost the morale and confidence of those on the frontlines of the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

This was the first time that CDS Rawat was addressing the media, in the presence of the three service chiefs, according to NDTV.

The plan of action & various activities of thanksgiving from the armed forces to COVID19 warriors was finalized at today's meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three Service Chiefs: Defence Ministry officials

The press conference came just days before the second phase of the lockdown comes to an end, on 3 May. However, the lockdown has been extended for another two weeks beyond 4 May, a Home Ministry order said.

India has recorded over 35,000 cases of COVID-19 so far, with the death toll above 1,100.

(With inputs from ANI)