NEW DELHI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indian troops Monday celebrated the 70th Army Day, officials said.
Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Indian naval staff Sunil Lanba and Indian air chief marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa visited Amar Jawan Jyoti (war memorial) in capital city New Delhi to pay tributes to the martyred soldiers.
Parde Ground in New Delhi cantonment and presented 15 medals to soldiers including five of them posthumously.
"Army will never allow anti-national forces to succeed at any cost," Rawat said while addressing soldiers during the ceremony.
Rawat also cautioned to remain alert against the misuse of social media by the "enemies".
"Social media is being used against us, we have to be careful in its use," he said.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted all soldiers, veterans and their families on the occasion.
"On Army Day, I convey greetings to the soldiers, veterans and their families. Every citizen of India has unwavering trust and pride in our army, which protects the nation and is also at the forefront of humanitarian efforts during times of natural disasters and other accidents," Modi wrote on twitter. "Our army always puts the nation first. I salute all those great individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving the nation. India will never forget our valiant heroes."
Army Day is celebrated every year on Jan 15 to commemorate the day when Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa's (then a Lieutenant General) took over the command of army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British commander-in-chief of India, on Jan. 15, 1949.
