BCCI President Anurag Thakur set to join Territorial Army

BJP MP and BCCI President Anurag Thakur is slowly becoming a highly inspirational figure. After achieving great success as a politician and a cricket administrator at a very young age, Thakur is now set to enter a new innings as an officer of the Territorial Army.

The 41-year-old is now a part of the second line of defence after the regular army. The Territorial army is consists of individuals who receive military training for about a month in a year so that in case, of an emergency they can be used for the safety of the country.

Thakur will be commissioned into the Territorial Army (TA) as a regular officer on Friday to become the first serving BJP Member of Parliament to join the military force. As a regular officer, the Lok Sabha member from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh will have to undergo a mandatory training.

Thakur, whose grandfather was in the army, made it to the army after clearing an exam and a personal interview conducted in Chandigarh and training held in Bhopal.

The Territorial Army is not a profession, occupation or a source of employment. It is only meant for people who are already in mainstay civilian professions. In fact, gainful employment or self-employment in a civil profession is a pre-requisite for joining the Territorial Army.

“I am very excited. It is a dream come true for me. I always wanted to wear the (military) uniform and contribute to the country’s security but could not,” he told PTI. I am keenly looking forward to my training and serving the country,” he added.

He also revealed he had initially wanted to join the armed forces but could not do so as his career got diverted to cricket and politics.

“I have always had the passion of joining the army. I have seen many youngsters sacrifice their lives for the nation,” said the MP from Himachal Pradesh where there is a general culture of sending youths to the army.

Thakur is looking forward to becoming an active part of the force. He said there are several issues concerning the forces which he had seen and dealt with from outside but “now I will be able to see the conditions from inside and will be in a better position to raise issues as an MP.”