Anurag Thakur, MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh on Friday became the first serving BJP MP to be commissioned into Territorial Army (TA) as a regular officer.
This apart, he is also the first ever MP from Himachal Pradesh to be a part of the TA. At a ceremony held at South Block, New Delhi, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Indian Army General and current Chief of the Army Staff along with father Prem Kumar Dhumal, former CM Himachal Pradesh, pipped ranks of lieutenant on his shoulder, for joining the 124 Inf Bn (TA) Sikh Battalion.
The 41-year-old, Anurag Thakur cleared the written exam and personal interview conducted by TA in Chandigarh and training held in Bhopal. He is joining TA as a regular officer and thus will have to undergo a training at TA Academy in Delhi.
“I am honoured to be commissioned into the Territorial Army. I hail from the land called Veerbhoomi and as a child, I always wanted to contribute to the wellbeing of the nation and therefore had joined politics. However, donning the Army uniform and being able to safeguard the motherland was a dream since childhood. My grandfather was a serviceman, my father raised the issue of one rank one pension in the Parliament. Now that I have got the opportunity, I will perform all the duties sincerely and will always serve the country,” said Thakur
Former Himachal CM, Prem Kumar Dhumal said, “It is a big day for me to see my son as a lieutenant in the Territorial Army. I have worked all my life for the betterment of the society and to see the same passion in my son gives me great joy. Anurag has worked tirelessly for the people of the State to safeguard their welfare and wellbeing and I am sure they would welcome this feat with extreme warmth and joy. It is indeed a matter of great pride for entire Himachal Pradesh to see Anurag as a lieutenant with the Territorial Army. like always, Anurag will work with utmost sincerity and honesty and live up to the stature of the uniform.”
Territorial Army is the second line of defence after the Indian Army. It is an organisation of volunteers who get trained for a few days so that they can contribute to the safety of the nation in case of an emergency.
Thakur is also the president of the Board of Cricket Control in India.