Army flags off 'Operation Namaste'; enters India's war against Coronavirus

Indian Army on Friday launched 'Operation Namaste' to combat spread of vel Coronavirus. Army Chief General MM Naravane said that it was his force's duty to help government in its fight against pandemic. 

He asked his troops, deployed on Line of Control (LOC) or Line of Actual Control (LAC), to t worry about ir near and dear ones and cancellation of leaves as a similar situation had been observed during Operation Parakram and force had come out successfully from it and will execute Operation Namaste too successfully.

'It is my priority to keep my force protected'

"In this fight against coronavirus, it is our responsibility to help government and civil administration. As an Army Chief, it is my priority to keep my force protected and fit too. We can serve in our duties only when we are ourselves protected from coronavirus," Gen Naravane told reporters in New Delhi.

He furr said social distancing could t be maintained by Army "due to tactical and operational reasons" and, refore, "to protect country it is important for us to keep ourselves safe and fit. Keeping this in mind, we had issued two to three advisories in last few weeks which should be followed."

'This mess is also for veterans'

Indian Army has code-named its anti-Coronavirus operations as Operation Namaste and has, so far, established eight quarantine facilities across country. "I am sure we will succeed in Operation Namaste. We have established command wise helplines, any of our personnel can approach m to seek help. Furr, families can also go and visit nearest Army camp in case any problem emerges. This mess is also for veterans," he said.

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Army Chief said that he knew that cancellation of leaves could have had an adverse impact on morale of soldiers but mentioned that during Operation Parakram in 2001-02, Army personnel had t taken leaves for eight to ten months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday anunced a 21-day lockdown in entire country to deal with spread of coronavirus, saying that social distancing is only option to deal with disease, which spreads rapidly.

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(With ANI inputs)