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DECEMBER 17, 2021 | The Indian Eye 5

proceeded towards the crematorium Milley and Pentagon spokesperson
to pay tribute to India’s first CDS. John Kirby condoled the demise
Admirers of CDS Rawat were pres- of India’s first CDS, General Bipin
ent along the road during the funeral Rawat.
procession with some of them carry- “We are deeply saddened by the
ing the national flag. They raised the loss of General Bipin Rawat, the In-
slogan, “Jab tak suraj chaand rahega, dian Chief of Defence Staff, his wife,
Bipinji ka naam rahega”. and eleven others who died in a trag-
Union Ministers Amit Shah, ic helicopter crash. As India’s first
Nirmala Sitharaman, Mansukh Man- chief of defence, he made a lasting
daviya, Smriti Irani, Narendra Singh impact on the Indian military and re-
Tomar and Sarbananda Sonowal inforced our strong military-to-mil-
went to the residence of General Bi- itary relationship between the US
pin Rawat earlier in the day to pay and India,” said Milley’s statement.
their last respects. US’s top military commander also
Congress leaders Rahul Gand- shared that both Rawat and his wife
hi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Harish Dr Madhulika, who too died in the
Rawat, BJP chief JP Nadda and crash had spent time with him and
DMK leaders A Raja and Kanimozhi his spouse Hollyanne Milley.
were among those who laid a wreath “Hollyanne and I spent time with
on the mortal remains of CDS Rawat Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets daughter of Late CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife Gen Rawat and his wife, Dr Madhu-
and his wife. Madhulika Rawat who died in IAF-Mi-17V5 helicopter crash (ANI Photo/ Sanjay Sharma) lika Rawat, during their visit to the
A chopper crash near Coo- US in September. We feel this loss
noor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday deeply, we are thankful to have met
claimed the lives of 13 people includ- them, and we feel grateful for their
ing CDS Rawat, his wife Madhulika life of service,” added Milley.
Rawat and his defence adviser Brig- The US Embassy in New Delhi
adier Lidder. on Wednesday expressed condolenc-
Other defence forces personnel es over the demise of General Bipin
who died in the chopper crash are Rawat, who was killed in a helicopter
CDS Rawat’s Staff Officer Lieu- crash along with his wife and 11 oth-
tenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, ers on board an Indian Air Force’s
Wing Commander Prithvi Singh chopper in Tamil Nadu.
Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep “The U.S. Embassy extends its
Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana deepest condolences to the Rawat
Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer family and the families of those who
Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal perished in the tragic helicopter crash
Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Ji- in Tamil Nadu,” US Embassy and
tendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Consulates in India said in a state-
Kumar and Lance Naik B. Sai Teja. ment. According to the statement,
Group Captain Varun Singh, the Rawat was a strong friend and part-
lone survivor in the crash, has been ner of the United States, overseeing
shifted to Air Force Command hos- a major expansion of India’s defense
pital at Bengaluru for further treat- cooperation with the US military.
ment. “As India’s first Chief of Defence
The Centre has ordered a ‘tri Daughter of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat Staff, General Rawat spearheaded a
service’ inquiry into the accident. historic period of transformation in
The inquiry will be headed by Air performs ritual during their cremation, at Brar square Crematorium in New Delhi on Friday (ANI) the Indian military. He was a strong
Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Of- friend and partner of the United
ficer Commanding-in-Chief Training National Security Advisor Ajit Doval (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife, States, overseeing a major expansion
Command. and Union Minister Smriti Irani also and colleagues in a chopper crash in of India’s defense cooperation with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Palam airbase and paid their the Nilgiri Hills. the U.S. military,” read the state-
on Thursday paid his last respects respects to Gen Rawat, his wife Mad- He said that Gen. Rawat was a ment.
to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) hulika Rawat and other 11 armed strong leader and advocate for India, “In September, he spent five
General Bipin Rawat, his wife Mad- force personnel who lost their lives and his passing is a great loss for both days traveling throughout the United
hulika Rawat and other 11 armed in the helicopter crash. The three of our nations. “Today I spoke with States as part of a counterpart visit
force personnel who lost their lives in service chiefs - Army Chief Gen MM Indian Minister of External Affairs with General Mark Milley to discuss
the chopper crash and said that the Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral R @DrSJaishankar to express my con- military developments and oppor-
country will never forget their rich Hari Kumar and IAF chief Air Chief dolences for the tragic death of Gen. tunities to enhance our cooperation
contribution. Marshal VR Chaudhari also paid Bipin Rawat, his wife, and colleagues. with like-minded countries. His leg-
The Prime Minister visited their respects. Gen. Rawat was a strong leader and acy will continue on,” the statement
Palam airbase to pay his last respects. reaCtion FroM the uS advocate for India, and his passing is added.
“Paid my last respects to Gen Bi- a great loss for both of our nations,” Also, Israeli envoy to India, Naor
From Washington, US Secretary
pin Rawat, his wife and other person- of State Antony Blinken on Thurs- tweeted Blinken. Gilon on Thursday said that the de-
nel of the Armed Forces. India will day (local time) spoke to External The Pentagon top officials on mise of India’s first Chief of Defence
never forget their rich contribution,” Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to ex- Wednesday including Secretary of Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat in a
tweeted PM Modi. press his condolences over the death Defense Lloyd J Austin III, Joint helicopter crash in the Nilgiri Hills is
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Mark
of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff

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