New Delhi, July 26: India on Wednesday recalled the valour of the armed forces and paid tributes to its fallen soldiers as it marked its victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserting the country is ready to even cross the Line of Control (LoC) to maintain its honour and dignity.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers and leaders cutting across party lines paid homage to the soldiers who had died in the war.
Various events were organised in states and at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass in Ladakh to mark the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. In Parliament, members paid their homage to the fallen soldiers.
In a tweet in Hindi, the president said, “Today, on the glorious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, all the people of the country remember the victory achieved by the extraordinary valour of our armed forces. On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay tribute and bow to the memory of the fighters who paved the way for victory by sacrificing their lives to protect the country. Their heroic stories will always inspire generations to come. Jai Hind!” Modi said Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the bravery of India’s unparalleled warriors who will always remain a source of inspiration to the people of the country.
The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999.
The war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors.
Addressing a gathering at the Kargil Memorial in Drass, Defence Minister Singh said India is ready to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to maintain its honour and dignity, and called upon civilians to be ready to support the soldiers in such a situation.
Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine war, he said it has been going on for more than a year because civilians have stepped up and are participating in the war.
“We can go to any extreme to maintain the honour and dignity of the country…if that includes crossing the LoC, we are ready to do that…if we are instigated and if the need arises, we will cross the LoC,” he said.
Singh said the Kargil War was imposed on India, which was “backstabbed” by Pakistan.
“During Operation Vijay, the Indian Army sent a message not only to Pakistan but to the whole world that when it comes to our national interests, our Army will not back down at any cost. We are fully committed to safeguarding our national interests even today,” the minister said. (PTI)
