News Analysis India

Tag: Kargil Vijay Diwas

  • Nation salutes soldiers who laid down their lives for country’s safety: President Ram Nath Kovind

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: President Ram Nath Kovind, who visited the Dagger War Memorial in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday, said it evokes profound respect for the brave fighters who laid down their lives for the safety and security of the country.

    Kovind was scheduled to visit the War Memorial at Drass in Ladakh to pay homage to personnel of the armed forces killed in the 1999 Kargil war, but bad weather forced cancellation of plans and he instead paid tributes to martyrs on the 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas at Baramulla.

    On Kargil Vijay Diwas, President Kovind laid a wreath at the Dagger War Memorial, Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir, to pay tributes to all soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defending the nation. pic.twitter.com/0ZheR8KIZr
    — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 26, 2021

    The president, in a message in the visitor’s book at the Dagger War Memorial, wrote: “The nation salutes the soldiers and officers of the 19th Infantry Division, who have been safeguarding our borders in the most hostile terrains under adverse weather conditions as our frontline troops.”

    They have scripted exceptional stories of indomitable courage, bravery and sacrifice, he said in his message. “The Dagger War Memorial evokes profound respect for the brave fighters who laid down their lives for the safety and security of our country. I am sure that this memorial will educate the people of India about the highest values of the Indian army and inspire them. Jai Hind!” he wrote.

    The president, who was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, also visited the High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg and interacted with troops there. “It has been a pleasure to visit the High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg. Established by the great General Thimayya, it has emerged as one of the most premier institutions in the field of warfare,” Kovind wrote in the visitor’s book of training school.

    The president said that he was also happy to interact with the soldiers. “I wish them success in their endeavours to provide safety and security to our country. Jai Hind!” he wrote.

  • Kargil Vijay Diwas: Indian Army pays tributes to its soldiers at Drass war memorial

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The Army paid rich tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil War against Pakistan at the Drass war memorial in Ladakh on Monday. In 1999, the Indian armed forces defeated attempts by Pakistan to capture strategic heights in Kargil.

    It was named ‘Operation Vijay’ (victory). The solemn ceremony to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was held at the Kargil War Memorial, Drass, Srinagar-based PRO Defence Col Emron Musavi said.

    Lt Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur was the chief guest on the occasion. He laid a wreath at the memorial and paid tributes to the slain soldiers as part of a ceremony symbolising ‘shraddhanjali’ (homage) from the entire nation.

    President Ram Nath Kovind was scheduled to visit the Drass memorial to pay homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the war but the plan had to be change due to bad weather. Instead, he visited the Baramulla war memorial in north Kashmir and laid a wreath there.

    In 2019 also, Kovind’s flight could not take off from here due to bad weather and he laid a wreath at the war memorial in Badamibagh Cantonment, which also houses the headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps. PRO Defence 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 ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh Victory Flame’ across the country commemorates 50 years of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.

    The proceedings at the Kargil War Memorial commenced with the reception of the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh Victory Flame’ by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in the presence of GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen 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 and other officers, gallantry awardees, ‘Veer Naris’, next of kin of the slain soldiers and civil dignitaries, Musavi said.

    It was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony by civil and military dignitaries, he said. The gallantry awardees of the Kargil War, next of kin of the bravehearts, and ‘Veer Naris’ also paid tributes to the fallen heroes, he said.