4 members of Indian National Army take part in Republic Day parade

Four veterans of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) attended the Republic Day parade, after 70 years of the republic.

The four INA veterans, all aged above 95 years, who attended the parade were Parmanand Yadav, Lalti Ram, Hira Singh and Bhagmal. They rode down the ceremonial boulevard in a open jeep, as a striking black and white portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hung from the side of their vehicles.

The INA was an armed force formed by Indian nationalist Rash Behari Bose in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Later, Netaji took charge of the army to fight against British forces.

This is the first time that INA veterans have been invited to be a part of the Republic Day parade. The decision to invite these veterans is seen as part of the Union government's efforts to acknowledge the contribution of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the members of INA towards the freedom of the country.

The move the invite the veterans comes in close heels after Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed three islands in Andaman and Nicobar in a bid to pay tribute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island were renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively to mark the 75th year of the freedom fighter.

"When it comes to the heroes of freedom struggle, we take Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's name with pride. The first prime minister of Azad Hind government Subhas Babu had made India's independence resolution on the soil of Andaman," the PM Modi had said. 

—With PTI inputs