• Thursday, March 28, 2024

HEADLINE STORY

Kargil Vijay Diwas: Army pays tributes to 1999 war matyrs

Indian armed forces personnel march past India Gate in New Delhi on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Divas. (Photo by PRAKASH SINGH/AFP via Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

THE Indian Army on Monday (26) paid rich tributes to soldiers who were martyred in the 1999 Kargil War against Pakistan at the Drass war memorial in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the summer of 1999, the Indian armed forces negated attempts made by the neighbouring country to capture strategic heights in Kargil. The mission was named “Operation Vijay” (victory).

The solemn ceremony held to remember the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil victory day) was held at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Kashmir-based PRO defence colonel Emron Musavi said.

Lieutenant governor of Ladakh RK Mathur was the chief guest on the occasion. He laid a wreath at the memorial and paid tributes to the martyrs symbolising ‘shraddhanjali‘ (homage) from the entire nation.

Indian president Ram Nath Kovind was also scheduled to visit the Drass memorial to pay homage to the martyrs but the plan had to be dropped because of inclement weather. He instead went to the Baramulla war memorial in North Kashmir and paid his tribute there.

Two years ago, too, Kovind’s visit had to be cancelled because of bad weather and he laid a wreath at the war memorial in Badami Bagh Cantonment on the outskirts of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, which also house the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 15 Corps.

Musavi said this year, the Kargil Vijay Diwas coincides with the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh Victory Flame’ reaching the Kargil War Memorial. The journey of the flame across India commemorates 50 years of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.

The proceedings at the Kargil War Memorial started with the reception of the flame by chief of defence staff Bipin Rawat. Several other top-post holders in the military were also present on the occasion, including general officer commanding (GOC)-in-chief in northern command Lt General Y K Joshi, GOC 14 Corps Lt Gen PGK Menon, GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen DP Pandey and GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar. Besides, gallantry awardees, ‘Veer Naris’ (war widows), next of kin of the slain soldiers and civil dignitaries were also present and paid tributes to the fallen heroes, Musavi said.

Leaders pay tributes

Indian vice president M Venkaiah Naidu paid tributes to the heroes of the 1999 war. “On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I join the nation in remembering our armed forces’ saga of valour & gallantry. I salute the heroes of the Kargil war & Operation Vijay and pay my respectful homage to the martyrs for their supreme sacrifice,” the vice president secretariat tweeted quoting him. “The nation will remain forever grateful to them & their families,” he said.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the martyrs saying their bravery “motivates us every single day”.  He said the country remembers the sacrifice and valour of its soldiers. “We remember their sacrifices. We remember their valour. Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas we pay homage to all those who lost their lives in Kargil protecting our nation. Their bravery motivates us every single day,” Modi tweeted.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the country will always remember the soldiers’ supreme sacrifice. “Heartfelt tributes to every soldier who laid down his life for the dignity of our tricolour,” he tweeted, adding, “We will always remember yours and your family’s supreme sacrifice for the security of the country. Jai Hind.”

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