Andhra CM pays homage to martyrs ahead of IFR

Visakhapatnam, Feb 4: Ahead of the International Fleet Review, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid a wreath at the Naval War Memorial here to pay homage to fallen personnel.

The memorial was built to commemorate the victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Naidu also inaugurated the Maritime Exhibition (MAREX), on the theme "Innovation, Youth and Indigenisation", in the presence of Navy chief, Admiral R.K. Dhowan.

President Pranab Mukherjee will be in Visakhapatnam from February 5 to 7 where he will witness the International Fleet Review 2016 on February 6.

The president, as the supreme commander of the armed forces reviews the Indian Naval Fleet once in his or her term.

The last International Fleet Review was conducted in January 2001, off Mumbai with participation from 29 countries. The International Fleet Review 2016 will be done at a much larger scale than ever done before and will witness participation from 50 countries.

IANS