New Delhi: Anurag Thakur, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Board Of Control For Cricket In India president, on Friday began a new innings as an officer of the Territorial Army.
The 41-year-old was commissioned into the Territorial Army (TA) as a regular officer by Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir S Suhag at South Block at 11 am.
With this, Thakur has become the first serving BJP Member of Parliament to join the military force.
After the ceremony, Thakur said his grandfather served in the Army and it was his childhood dream to serve India in uniform.
“I will continue to serve the people by being their voice in Parliament and serve my country as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army,” said Thakur.
जय हिन्द | #TerritorialArmy pic.twitter.com/pWEej7bg0B
— Lt. Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 29, 2016
Photo: Piping Ceremony at South Block (Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir S Suhag & my father Prof. @dhumalhp) pic.twitter.com/nR5XRg6Y2w
— Lt. Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 29, 2016
Photo: Piping Ceremony at South Block (Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir S Suhag & Family members) pic.twitter.com/YAN3TnsoGt
— Lt. Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 29, 2016
Thakur made it to the TA after clearing an exam and a personal interview conducted in Chandigarh and training held in Bhopal.
As a regular officer, the Lok Sabha member from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh will have to undergo a mandatory training.
The Territorial Army, the second line of defence after the regular Army, is composed of volunteers who receive military training for about a month in a year so that in the case of an emergency they can be mobilised for the defence of the country.
The Territorial Army is not a profession, occupation or a source of employment. It is only meant for people who are already in mainstay civilian professions. In fact, gainful employment or self-employment in a civil profession is a pre-requisite for joining the Territorial Army.
