President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani were among the leaders who attended a Navy Day reception hosted by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma here on Friday.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidmabaram, Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, the French Defence Minister Herve Morin, Chief of the Army Staff Admiral Deepak Kapoor, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik and top brass of the three services and members of the diplomatic and military attaches of several countries attended the function.
On the occasion Ms. Patil also released the final part of a trilogy on the History of Indian Navy written by Vice- Admiral G.M. Hiranandani, who passed away earlier. His widow presented a copy to the President.
As darkness descended, the hour-long event ended with a rendition of the Gandhiji’s hymn ‘Abide with Me’ and entire lawn lit up with soft light.
