Returning from his four-day visit to Russia, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday that his visit to attend the 70th anniversary of Victory Day in Europe “re-affirmed [India’s] abiding solidarity with Russia.”
While bilateral relationship was the overriding reason for his visit, there was a stronger military message that was being sent, officials told The Hindu , with the participation of the Grenadiers contingent of the Indian Army in the Russian parade for the first time.
This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the World War I memorial for Indian soldiers in France’s Neuve Chapelle in April and Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh’s attendance at the Anzac Day (WW I) ceremony in Gallipoli, Turkey, last month.
The message Speaking about his visit, Mr. Mukherjee said: “For India, this was an occasion both to commemorate the bravery and spirit of the Russian people, and equally to remember the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the most defining struggle of the 20th Century.”
According to a senior government official, the message being sent out is two-fold: at one level, it is a reach out to the armed forces and their families, with an acknowledgement of Indian soldiers who fought and died in the wars. On another level, it sends out a signal of India’s historic military capabilities, which have been reinforced by recent multi-force rescue operations to evacuate Indians and others alike from the conflict in Yemen, and the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal.
The issue could also become another flashpoint between the BJP and the Congress, as the government has accused the former UPA governments of “ignoring the sacrifices” of Indian soldiers in both the wars.
“We have forgotten our soldiers who performed so well during the wars, and there is an effort now to remember them,” Gen. V.K. Singh told The Hindu . “Perhaps the British colonial rulers themselves tried to downplay this and the Congress carried their sentiment after Independence,” he said, adding a possibly controversial political colour to the issue.
However, Mr. Mukherjee, who refused to comment on the political aspect of the issue, said the practice of “recognising our war heroes” was initiated during the UPA regime.
“When I was the Defence Minister (2004-06), I made it a point to visit each and every war memorial for Indian soldiers in Europe and pay my respects.” Mr. Mukherjee had first attended the Russian V-Day parade as Foreign Minister in 1995, while in 2005, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Moscow for the 60th year commemoration.
