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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will onTuesday perform the Shastra Puja (worship of weapons) on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya dashami after receiving the first of 36 Rafale jets in the French port city of Bordeaux. After performing the puja, he will fly a sortie in the aircraft.

Shastra Pooja is an old Hindu tradition where warriors perform pooja of their arms and weapons. Rajnath has been performing 'Shastra Puja' for last several years including during his tenure as the Union Home Minister in the previous NDA government.

Rajnath will embark on a two-day visit to France fromMonday, primarily to receive the first Rafale fighter jet on Tuesday, thefoundation day of the Indian Air Force and on the occasion of Hindu festivalDussehra. During his visit, which he will hold the Annual Defence dialogue withFrench Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly, a Defence Ministry statementsaid.

The ceremony to hand over the Rafale jet will take place ata facility of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the aircraft, in Merignac ofBordeaux, at around 600 km from Paris.He would meet France President EmmanuelMacron on Tuesday before participating in the Rafale fighter aircraft handingover ceremony at Merignac along with Parly. Later, the two leaders will holdthe annual Defence dialogue.

On October 9, he will address the CEOs of the French Defenceindustry during which he is likely to urge them to participate in 'Make inIndia' and the DefExpo to be held in Lucknow from February 5-8, 2020.

The first batch of four aircraft is expected to come toIndia by May next year.

 


Publish Time: 07 October 2019
TP News

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