Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi pays homage to Kargil war martyrs in Drass

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi paid tributes to soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Mr. Modi will carry out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project virtually. An official release said that the Shinkun La Tunnel Project, which consists of a 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel that would be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road, would provide all-weather connectivity to Leh. Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world. The tunnel would ensure swift and efficient movement of the country’s armed forces and equipment and foster economic and social development in Ladakh.

In New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered his tributes the soldiers who died in the line of duty in the 1999 Kargil War at the National War Memorial.

President Murmu, leaders pay tributes to the soldiers

President Droupadi Murmu hailed the “courage and extraordinary valour” of the armed forces and urged all the countrymen to “draw inspiration from the sacrifice and valour” of the soldiers.

In a post on X, she said, “Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion for a grateful nation to pay tribute to the indomitable courage and extraordinary valour of our armed forces. I pay tribute to each soldier who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Mother India on the peaks of Kargil in the year 1999 and bow in reverence to their sacred memory.”

“I am confident that all countrymen will draw inspiration from their sacrifice and valour. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!,” she added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also offered tribute to the soldiers to commemorate the occasion. In a post on X, he heaped praise on the “unwavering commitment, valour and patriotism” of the soldiers ensuring the safety and security of the country.

“Today, on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the indomitable spirit and courage of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly in the 1999 war. Their unwavering commitment, valour and patriotism ensured that our country remained safe and secure. Their service and sacrifice will continue to inspire every Indian and our coming generations,” Mr. Singh mentioned in the post.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the unwavering resolve and valour of the brave soldiers of the army. “Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the unwavering resolve of the valor of the brave soldiers of the army. In the Kargil war, the brave soldiers displayed the ultimate valour in the inaccessible hills of the Himalayas and forced the enemy army to kneel down, and made the country proud by hoisting the tricolour again in Kargil,” he said in a post on X. “Today on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ I salute the brave soldiers who protected the motherland with their courage in this war. The nation will never forget your sacrifice, dedication and sacrifice,” he added.

Minister of External Affairs (EAM) S. Jaishankar also took the opportunity to “salute the valour and dedication of soldiers” on the occasion. “On Kargil Vijay Diwas, salute the valour and dedication of our brave soldiers. The legacy of their courage and patriotism acts as a guiding light for all Indians,” he said in a post on X.

Family members, veterans remember martyrs

As the country celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas today, the families of the soldiers remember the bravery and dedication of their loved ones who laid their lives during the war between India and Pakistan at icy heights in 1999.

Madhubala, widow of Kargil hero Vinod Kumar, said, “On May 18, 1997, we got married and on June 14, 1999, he lost his life. I feel very good to be here and feel proud. Rajender Kumar, the elder brother of Kargil hero, soldier Bejender Kumar, said that he feels proud that his brother died for the country.”I feel so proud; he died for the country. We remember him every day,” he said.

Prashanti, wife of Kargil hero, Group Captain K. Nachiketa Rao, said that, like all the other countrymen, she used to pray for his repatriation from Pakistan everyday. Group Captain Rao was a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force who was captured by Pakistani forces before he was handed over to the Indian authorities.”I feel very proud. The bravery and courage he had shown. We were not married at the time of the war. We married after two years of it. Like all the other countrymen, we used to pray every day for his repatriation (from Pakistan). We feel proud as there are very few people who get such a chance to show such bravery and then get to comeback and live to tell those tales,” she said.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.