After 43 long years of Service to the Indian Army, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on December 31, 2016, retired from the services and thanked PM Modi for giving him a “free hand” to conduct operations as Army Chief.
General Dalbir Singh inspects guard of honour on his last day as Army Chief pic.twitter.com/8imdz2hrBk
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016
General Dalbir Singh was given a full guard honor at the South Block lawns of Delhi before he handed over his charge to General Bipin Rawat, who will now become the Indian Army Chief from January 1, 2017, onwards.
Delhi: Bipin Rawat takes charge as the next Army Chief pic.twitter.com/QzcuFYSGaM
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016
While giving his farewell speech, Singh saluted the martyrs of India and expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for all the support he had given him.
I salute our martyrs who made supreme sacrifices in upholding honour of the nation: General Dalbir Singh pic.twitter.com/UrszudiDtG
Advertisement— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016
Express my gratitude to PM and Govt for their full support and giving free hand in conduct of operations: General Dalbir Singh pic.twitter.com/w5xPzrY6LZ
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016
Singh also took the time to thank the Indian government for “granting one rank one pension (OROP) to the ex-servicemen” and praised the Indian soldiers saying that they are not only brave but ‘the finest and strongest army in the world”.
I also thank the Govt for granting One Rank One Pension to the armed forces: General Dalbir Singh pic.twitter.com/DDDIBFRKVU
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016
General Dalbir Singh was the Indian Army Chief for two and a half years, he had taken over the charge from General Bikram Singh on 31, July 2014.
In 2012, we had killed 67 terrorists, 65 in 2013 & killed 141 terrorists alone in J&K this year: Gen Dalbir Singh on last day as Army Chief pic.twitter.com/uSAUW5FQMD
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 31, 2016