Chandigarh, 17 September(Wishav Warta): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed profound grief over the death of Marshal of Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh, DFC, and declared a 3-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the gallant officer.
There would be no official celebrations and the national flag would fly at half-mast in all the government buildings during these three days, an official spokesperson announced.
In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said Arjan Singh’s contribution to the nation would forever remain etched in history. In his death, India has lost a great son of the soil, who always remained at the forefront to defend the country’s borders from the external invasions on the one hand and to uphold the supreme traditions and glory of the armed forces on the other. His contribution to the air force during World War II and during the 1965 Indo-Pak war was unparalleled, he added.
The Chief Minister recalled that Arjan Singh had the distinction of becoming the only living Five Star military officer besides being the first Air Chief Marshal of Air Force when, in recognition of the Air Force’s stellar role in the 1965 war, the rank of the Chief of Air Staff was upgraded to that of Air Chief Marshal. Arjan Singh was a proud recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), awarded in 1944 and Padam Vibhushan in 1965, he further recalled, saluting the great officer.
Captain Amarinder also lauded Arjan Singh’s outstanding services as Ambassador to various countries, High Commissioner to Kenya, Member of National Minorities Commission and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
Sharing his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to give them courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss and grant eternal peace to the departed soul.
