New Delhi [India], October 11 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left for Gangtok, Sikkim on Friday to address the Army Commanders' Conference 2024.
He will also celebrate Vijaya Dashmi with the armed forces personnel.
"I shall be reaching Gangtok today on a two-day visit to Sikkim. Looking forward to address the Army Commanders' Conference and also celebrate Vijaya Dashmi with the armed forces personnel," Singh posted on X.
Earlier, in a strong message to China, the top brass of the Indian Army led by Gen Upendra Dwivedi would be meeting in Sikkim near the Line of Actual Control. where they would be addressed by Rajnath Singh.
This is the first time that the crucial meeting of the top Army commanders would be held at a location close to the Line of Actual Control, defence officials told ANI.
The meeting planned to be held in Sikkim from October 10-11 would be addressed by the top defence brass including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, they said.
The meeting would take stock of the sensitive situation along the LAC, especially in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh where the two sides have been getting engaged in stand-offs and face-offs on a regular basis.
The second phase of the conference is likely to be held in Delhi on October 28-29.
The top brass would also discuss the lessons of the ongoing global conflicts and the lessons to be drawn for the Indian forces including the different arms of the Army, the officials said.
This would also be the first meeting of the top Army commanders under the leadership of Gen Dwivedi who took over as the Chief of Army Staff on June 30 this year.
The second phase of the meeting would be held in Delhi also around the end of the month, the sources said.
Recently, Gen Dwivedi stated that the situation with China on the borders was stable but not normal.
He also pointed out that trust between the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was "the biggest casualty" of the dragging military standoff with China in the sensitive theatre.