24th anniversary of victory over Pakistani troops
*Rajnath or other Minister to attend LAHDC Leh function on Aug 5
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Drass in Kargil district in the Union Territory of Ladakh on July 26 to pay tribute to brave soldiers of the Indian Army on 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh or a Union Minister will be in Leh on August 5 to attend a function of Hill Development Council.
As per the officials, the Prime Minister is expected to visit Drass, located at a height of 10,800 feet from sea level, in Kargil district of Ladakh to pay tribute to fallen soldiers on 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26.
However, a formal communication to the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh is awaited but they have been sounded about likely visit of the Prime Minister to Drass.
Modi is expected to land at Srinagar Airport from New Delhi from where he will leave for Drass. He will stay there for nearly an hour interacting with troops, paying tribute to soldiers who sacrificed their lives during 1999 war with Pakistan in Kargil and will then return to Srinagar on way back to New Delhi.
Modi has already visited Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world on the occasion of Diwali festival in 2014, the year he took over as the Prime Minister.
He led International Yoga Day celebrations in Leh on June 21, 2020.
However, this will be Modi’s first visit to Drass to pay tribute to soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi are also expected to visit Drass. Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils chairpersons Tashi Gyalson and Feroz Khan will also be in Drass on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Indian Army bravely fought Pakistani troops and invaders in the heights of Kargil for over two months from May to July in 1999 and forced all of them to retreat. Since then, July 26 is every year celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas by the Indian Army.
Over 500 Indian Army and Air Force bravehearts had attained martyrdom in over two month long war with Pakistan in the heights of Kargil. Casualties on Pakistan side were very high.
Next year, India will be celebrating silver jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Earlier, former President Ram Nath Kovind and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also visited Drass to pay tribute to the Army soldiers.
Meanwhile, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh will be observing August 5 this year too with pump and show by holding a function and awarding meritorious services award on the occasion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was expected to attend the function but, as per sources, he is preoccupied and might be abroad on that day.
“In such a scenario, a Union Minister is expected to attend the function in Leh,” the sources said.
The LAHDC Leh has been giving meritorious services award every year but after Ladakh became the Union Territory, the function is now every year held on August 5 as it was on this day that Ladakh was separated from erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and was declared as the UT.
“The function will be held on very large scale this year as well with greater participation from Ladakh as well as representation from the Central Government,” the sources said.
LAHDC Leh is being ruled by the BJP for second consecutive term.
Already, a number of Union Ministers have toured the Union Territory of Ladakh this year as part of Central Government’s `Vibrant Villages Programme’ and more are expected to visit in the coming days.
The visits by the Union Ministers are aimed at boosting confidence among the people living in border villages located close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
The Government has been boosting infrastructure in the border villages and providing necessary facilities to the dwellers to ensure their stay in the forward areas and keep hawk’s eye on the enemy.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
