PANAJI
President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Goa on a three-day official visit on Sunday evening and was received by Governor P S Shreedharan Pillai and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the INS Hansa naval enclave.
Kovind is in Goa to attend the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Indian naval base ‘INS Hansa’.
He is slated to award the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation on Monday at a ceremonial parade to be held at INS Hansa in Vasco.
The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.
A statement released through the Goa Government’s Information Department said: “President Kovind will attend the presentation of the ‘President’s Colour’ to the naval aviation, coinciding with the diamond jubilee celebration of the INS Hansa on September 6.”
To mark the day, the Department of Posts will also release a special day cover.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh will also attend Monday’s event at the INS Hansa as will Pillai and Sawant besides other civil and military dignitaries.
Kovind arrived on a special aircraft at Dabolim airport in the evening where he was greeted by Pillai and Sawant.
He was then flown in a helicopter to the Bambolim helipad where he was welcomed by Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar and Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho.
