Rajnath pays tributes to soldiers
KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS Soldiers’ sacrifices to be a source of inspiration for armed forces, says defence minister; Nadda targets UPA
NEWDELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh paid tributes at the National War Memorial here on Sunday on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war.
On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army had announced the successful culmination of “Operation Vijay”, declaring victory after the nearly three-monthlong battles in the icy heights of Kargil.
The country lost more than 500 soldiers in the war.
“I congratulate all Indian citizens on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The sacrifices made by soldiers, which helped us win t he Kargil war, will always be a source of inspirat i on f or t he armed f orces,” Singh told reporters.
Along with the defence minister, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Navy Chief
Admiral Karambir Singh also paid tributes at the Amar Jawan J y o t i a t t he Nati o nal War Memorial.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP president JP Nadda said, Indian forces combined inspiration and strategy with valour to vanquish Pakistan during the Kargil war de s pi t e f a c i ng adverse circumstances.
He said India will forever remember the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers to secure the country’s borders.
Nadda also stressed on the BJP’S commitment to the welfare of armed forces, saying the def e nce s e c t or has al ways received Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special focus.
The Modi government implemented ‘one rank one pension’ scheme and cleared all dues with payment of ~33,000 crore, he said, adding that 72 border projects are now near completion while work on them was not done during the UPA government.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the country is proud of the heroes who are dedicated to protecting it and who drove away the enemy from the arduous hills of Kargil.
On the 21st anniversary of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war, Shah said the “Kargil Vijay Diwas” is a symbol of India’s self-respect, amazing valour and steadfast leadership.
“I bow to the bravehearts, who, with their indomitable courage, drove the enemy from the difficult hills of Kargil and waved the tricolour there again. The country is proud of the heroes of India who are dedicated to protecting the motherl and,” he s ai d i n a t weet i n Hindi.
The Kargil war was declared over on July 26, 1999, af t er Indian soldiers pushed back the Pakistani troops, a bulk of them drawn from the neighbouring country’s Northern Light Infantry, from the captured peaks.
The day is observed as “Kargil Vijay Diwas” to commemorate India’s victory in the war.
The I ndi a n a nd Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last 10 weeks.
The tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were kil l ed by t he Chinese troops in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side also suffered casualties, but is yet to give out the details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.