Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 31
Within two hours of relinquishing charge as the Navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba today drove off on his own from Delhi to his retirement home Panchkula, near Chandigarh — a refreshing sight, for sure.
Soon after the ceremonial handover to his successor, Admiral Karambir Singh Nijjer — who will be in office till November 2021 — Admiral Lanba went to his designated bungalow on Rajaji Marg in Lutyen’s Delhi.
By 1 pm, he was in his personal SUV with his wife, Reena Lanba — both all smiles — having ended more than 40 years of service in the Navy. Chiefs serve till 62 years of age.
En route, the couple planned to stop for snacks in one of the eateries that dot the national highway. Earlier, on reaching home, the personal staff allocated to him due to his protocol duties got pictures clicked with the couple. The Services Chiefs have ceremonial duties, including hosting high dignitaries, hence the personal staff.
Originally hailing from Palwal in Haryana, the soft-spoken Admiral has opted to live in Panchkula. He will be the third retired service chief to call the tricity — Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula area — home. Former Army Chief Gen VP Malik (retd) resides in Panchkula, and another former Army Chief, Gen Bikram Singh (retd), in Mohali.
The tricity will soon have another retired Chief residing there. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa is renovating his property in Mohali and is expected to move there. His father SS Dhanoa is a former Chief Secretary of Punjab.
Meanwhile, Admiral Karambir ’s mother Rajinder Kaur and his two children were present at the taking-over ceremony at the South Block. Admiral Karambir, who hails from Jalandhar, has superseded Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Commissioned in 1980, Admiral Karambir is an alumnus of NDA.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2KiyigK
via Today’s News Headlines
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