- Wednesday, May 01, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (16) took part in the reception ceremony of ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaals’ at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of the 50th Vijay Diwas.
He was accompanied by defence minister Rajnath Singh. The prime minister also laid a wreath at the war memorial on the occasion.
Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16 every year to commemorate the victory of the Indian military over the Pakistani forces in the 1971 war. The day is also observed as the Victory Day in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) which became independent from (West) Pakistan in March 1971 the same year and fought months of liberation war with help of India.
ALSO READ: Indian president reaches Bangladesh for 50th Victory Day anniversary
Indian president Ram Nath Kovind was meanwhile in Dhaka, the capital of the eastern neighbour, as a guest of honour to witness the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Victory Day. Modi visited Bangladesh in March this year when Bangladesh turned 50 as an independent nation.
On December 16 last year, Modi lit the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ from the Eternal Flame at the National War Memorial. He also lit four flames to traverse along with different directions. Ever since, these four flames have traversed across the length and breadth of the nation, including to Siachen, Kanyakumari, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rann of Kutch, Agartala, etc.
On this special day of Vijay Diwas, I had the honour of paying my respects at the National War Memorial and merging into the Eternal Flame, the four Vijay Mashaals which traversed across the length and breadth of the country over the course of last one year. pic.twitter.com/HwTKXEcaoq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2021
The flames were taken to key battle areas and also to the houses of gallantry award winners and veterans of the war.
On Thursday, the four flames were merged by Modi with the Eternal Flame at the National War Memorial.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi recalled the valour and sacrifices made by the Bangladeshi liberation fighters and the Indian military personnel and said they together, they defeated oppressive forces.
“On the 50th Vijay Diwas, I recall the great valour and sacrifice by the Muktijoddhas, Biranganas and bravehearts of the Indian Armed Forces. Together, we fought and defeated oppressive forces. Rashtrapati Ji’s presence in Dhaka is of special significance to every Indian,” the prime minister tweeted.
On the 50th Vijay Diwas, I recall the great valour and sacrifice by the Muktijoddhas, Biranganas and bravehearts of the Indian Armed Forces. Together, we fought and defeated oppressive forces. Rashtrapati Ji’s presence in Dhaka is of special significance to every Indian.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2021
Singh also remembered the courage and sacrifice of the armed forces during the 1971 war and called it a “golden chapter in India’s military history”.
“On the occasion of ‘Swarnim Vijay Diwas’ we remember the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces during the 1971 war. The 1971 war is the golden chapter in India’s military history. We are proud of our armed forces and their achievements,” he tweeted. He also shared a picture of “Instrument of Surrender” and said, “This day, that year!”
This Day, That Year! pic.twitter.com/t9Tp73wvl2
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 16, 2021
Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India during the war.
Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, who leads the Indian National Congress which was in power during the 1971 war, said that year was the “finest year” of Indira, her late mother-in-law. Speaking at a party event to commemorate the golden jubilee of the war, the veteran leader said the liberation of Bangladesh 50 years ago was a magnificent accomplishment under Indira’s leadership but added that the former prime minister would have liked everyone to celebrate the achievement but not in a “boastful spirit” or “spirit of self-glorification” – something that many saw an indirect dig at the Modi government.
Kovind, who reached Dhaka on Wednesday (15) on a three-day visit, witnessed Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations at the capital’s National Parade Ground on Thursday.
His Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid reviewed the parade as the event began.
On Wednesday, the Indian president met Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and congratulated the South Asian nation’s government and people on the historic tri-occasions of ‘Mujib Borsho’ (‘the year of Mujib’ to mark the birth centenary of the country’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman), 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations.
