Universities and colleges across Delhi celebrate ‘surgical strike’ day
NEW DELHI: Universities and colleges in Delhi celebrated “surgical strike” day on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the Indian Army’s strike at terror pods across the Line of Control (LOC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The educational institutions were advised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to observe the day.
While the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) organised a series of day-long events, Jamia Millia Islamia had a two-day “gala” to celebrate the “surgical strike” day. Even though the colleges across the Delhi University (DU) organised their individual programmes, the university administration also held a talk session by retired army officers and defence experts on the strike.
At JNU, amid cheers of “bharat mata ki jai”, Major General (retd.) Gagandeep Bakshi said, “The surgical strike was just a glimpse of what we can do. It was just to give them an idea that they (Pakistan) cannot kill our soldiers and get away with it… I wish more such strikes should take place in the future and it should not stop with one… The blood of over 80,000 Indian soldiers who died in the ‘asymmetric wars’ that Pakistan raged against us should not go in vain.”
Bakshi said that no other educational institution in the country has as “intimate” relationship with the security forces as JNU. “JNU gives degrees to six defence institutions and in this way all of us are alumni to JNU,” he said.
JNU Rector-iii RP Singh said that the day gave the university an opportunity to pay tribute to their security forces. ‘It’s not just to about the surgical strike day. It is an opportunity to recognise the valour and sacrifices of our soldiers,” he said.
In Delhi University’s colleges, including SGTB Khalsa college, Ramjas college, Lady Shri Ram college, Hansraj college and Aryabhatta college, parades and demonstrations were conducted by the NCC cadets.
BJP EVENTS MARK ‘PARAKRAM DIWAS’
As part of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’S) nationwide second anniversary commemoration of Army’s surgical strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the party’s state unit in Delhi celebrated ‘Parakram Diwas’ on Saturday.
On the occasion, programmes were held at 11 locations in the city in which ex-servicemen were felicitated and the family members of the martyrs were also honoured.
“Hundreds of party workers and even local RWAS joined hands in lauding the Indian Army’s bold action against terror camps operating from Pakistan’s territory,” said Ravinder Gupta, general secretary of Delhi BJP.
All seven members of Parliament from Delhi and union ministers Vijay Goel and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also participated in the celebration at two locations.