Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Monday that relations with East Asian countries are on track and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intention that the look East policy should now be Act East Policy is “taking shape”. Presence of 10 ASEAN leaders during the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations will showcase that policy, she said.
leaders of all the 10 ASEAN member countries namely Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, laos and Brunei will be chief guests at the parade at Rajpath on January 26.
“The Prime Minister's intention that the look East policy should now be the Act East policy is really taking shape. And, by the very presence of 10 leaders from ASEAN during the Republic Day celebrations, India definitely is showcasing its Act East policy. And, we are happy that the event is going to happen with all of them present,” the Defence Minister told reporters on the sidelines of National Cadet Corps(NCC) Republic Day camp here.
Earlier, Sitharaman presented the 'Raksha Mantri Padak' and commendation cards to cadets at an investiture ceremony held at the camp held every year. The Raksha Mantri Padak, instituted in 1989, is presented to the most deserving cadet every year for bravery or exceptional service of the highest order. Cadet Priya of the Uttar Pradesh Directorate received the honour on Monday.
The Defence Minister said the NCC, since its inception has helped in the nation-building process by inculcating among the youth, discipline, confidence, camaraderie and a spirit of adventure.
NCC cadets have played their role in times of natural disasters, and in promoting government programmes like Swachh Bharat, and awareness programme for the girl child, she said in her address to the cadets.
During her interaction with media, she said the government's vision is to expand the footprint of the Corps in the country. Currently, 13 lakh cadets are enrolled in the NCC and the government has planned to increase it to 15 lakh in five phases by 2020. As many as 2,070 cadets, including 703 girls, from 29 states and seven Union territories are participating in this Republic Day Camp. It will conclude with the 'Prime Minister's Rally' on January 28.