Kochi :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his maiden visit to Kerala after assuming the post to address the first ever combined commanders’ conference to be held out of national capital, onboard INS Vikramaditya off the Kochi coast on Tuesday.
Sources from the Indian Navy said all arrangements are in place to receive the prime minister and defence minister Manohar Parrikar apart from other senior members of the cabinet and commanders.
“A special operational demonstration will be organised for the PM as part of the conference in which entire ships from Western Command will participate. Exercises including firing will be performed. A steam past will be performed where a fleet of ships led by INS Viraat will salute the PM onboard INS Vikramaditya,” said a defence source.
For the first time, Modi will also address all the field units through armed forces network from INS Vikramaditya after the conference is over, the source added.
Combined commanders’ conference is an event where the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force explain the achievements of the past year to the PM and other ministers, the issues and challenges the country may face in coming year. The conference will also discuss the strategic, operational, logistical and administrative aspects relating to the forces. It was later decided to start the custom from Navy and the conference will be held onboard India’s latest aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
It was Modi, during his address at the combined commanders’ conference in Delhi last October, suggested that the armed forces could organize such conferences on ships or in forward area cantonments or air-bases, instead of only in New Delhi. The conference was originally scheduled to be held in October, however it was postponed due to the Bihar elections.
The PM will return first from the INS Vikramaditya in a helicopter followed by other dignitaries in separate choppers. The details of the conference will be briefed to media in the evening by Defence PRO, according to Navy sources.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kochi / Shyam P V, TNN / December 14th, 2015