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On the occasion of Vijay Diwas on December 16, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had claimed in the Lok Sabha that the painting had been removed from the army headquarters
The Indian Army said the 1971 surrender painting has been moved to the Manekshaw Centre. (Image: @adgpi/X)
The Indian Army on Tuesday responded to the controversy over the removal of the painting of Pakistan surrendering before India after the 1971 Bangladesh War from its headquarters. It said the iconic picture was not removed, but moved to its “most befitting place” on the occasion of Vijay Diwas on December 16.
A day ago, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had claimed in the Lok Sabha that the painting was removed from the army headquarters. “Today, that picture has been removed from the Army headquarters where the Pakistan Army is surrendering before the Indian Army,” she said.
A controversy erupted soon after, but the army said the painting, in fact, has been moved to a new location — the Manekshaw Centre, named after the “architect and hero” of the 1971 war. The Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army posted the information on its official handle on X.
It further said the painting was installed at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and AWWA president Sunita Dwivedi. “On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, General Upendra Dwivedi COAS, along with the President AWWA, Mrs Sunita Dwivedi, installed the iconic 1971 surrender painting to its most befitting place, The Manekshaw Centre, named after the Architect and the Hero of 1971 War, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Senior hierarchy & serving officers of #IndianArmy and #Veterans were present on this occasion,” the ADG PI-Indian Army said.
The army also said installing the painting at the Manekshaw Centre will benefit a larger audience, and people from all walks of life as well as international visitors will have access to it.
It added: “This painting is a testament to one of the greatest military victories of Indian Armed Forces and the commitment of India for justice & humanity for all. Its placement at the Manekshaw Centre New Delhi will benefit a large audience due to substantial footfall of diverse audience & dignitaries from India and abroad at this venue.”
