The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to celebrate March 19, the day it was granted President's Colour in 1950, as the CRPF Day Parade every year.
Earlier, the raising day was celebrated as CRPF Anniversary Parade on one of four dates every year—March 19 (President’s Colour was awarded to CRPF on March 19, 1950, July 27 (Crown Representative Police (CRP) was originally raised on this date in 1939, October 31 (Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel who was born on this date in October 1875 and December 28 (After Independence, CRP was rechristened as Central Reserve Police Force by enacting CRPF Act 1949 on this date).
The reasons for the change in dates were attributable to the heavy rain in the month of July, coinciding birthday of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on October 31 with assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and extreme winter in the national capital in December besides availability of Chief Guest for the event, officials said.
Since 2018, the anniversary function has been conducted on March 19 every year.
An online meeting was held earlier this month under the chairmanship of Director General of CRPF Kuldiep Singh with all the Zonal Commanders and other Sector officers to discuss various issues regarding celebration of 83rd CRPF Anniversary Parade this year, they said.
The reason to celebrate CRPF Anniversary Parade on different dates/days was discussed in depth and it was unanimously agreed and decided that henceforth, the CRPF Anniversary Day will be re-designated and celebrated as “CRPF Day on March 19 every year.
“It has been decided by the Competent Authority that henceforth, the nomenclature of CRPF Anniversary is hereby changed as CRPF Day Parade,” a senior paramilitary official said quoting from the order issued by Inspector General (Administration) at the CRPF Directorate here, Anshuman Yadav, on Friday.
Necessary correction/amendment in the Hand Book on Ceremonies is also being made and the decision in connection with the fixation of March 19 as the date for anniversary celebration and the change in nomenclature has been approved by the DG, CRPF.
Insiders in the paramilitary said it remains to be seen if the anniversary date will remain the same under the fluctuating command and leadership of IPS officers or will be subjected to changes following change in the top paramilitary leadership.
Ideally, the anniversary day parade should have been on December 28 when the CRPF was actually created through an Act of Parliament, another official said. CRPF veterans also opposed the logic of cold winter as a reason for not holding the anniversary celebrations on December 28 especially when the Border Security Force (BSF) continues to celebrate its raising day on December 16 every year.
The veterans said the raising day cannot be changed at the whims and fancies of the CRPF leadership and the date of enactment of the CRPF Act in Independent India should be treated as the CRPF Day.
Even the Republic Day Parade and the rehearsals are held in January and winter is not a dampener for a range of Forces taking part in it. A full parade is also organized to grant farewell to the retiring paramilitary chiefs, including the CRPF DG, and weather has never been a hindrance in holding such ceremonies, they added.