‘Life or death don’t matter for jawans, duty matters’
Prez, Vice Prez, DM pay tribute to bravehearts of Kargil
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 26: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in paying tribute to the Army soldiers who fought courageously and bravely in Kargil heights from May to July in 1999 and won the war against Pakistani invaders who had captured the hills.
Modi said wars are not fought by the Governments but entire country as the Governments come and go but those who sacrifice their lives for the nation are immortal.
In a four-minute video tagged to his twitter message on Kargil Vijay Diwas today, Modi said the Army soldiers sacrifice their lives for next generations so that our future is secure.
“Life or death don’t matter for them. It is duty that matters for the soldiers,” he said.
Asserting that the Army soldiers sacrifice their everything for nation, the Prime Minister said he salutes them (the jawans) and `Veer Matas’ who gave birth to them.
“Can you imagine the enemy was at top of the hills and our Army was fighting them from the plains. But the victory was not of those who were on the hills but our soldiers who displayed true bravery and courage,” Modi said.
He described Kargil Vijay Diwas as a symbol of pride and glory of ‘Ma Bharti”.
“On this occasion, I salute all the brave sons of the country who achieved the height of valour while defending the motherland. Jai Hind,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of ‘Operation Vijay’, declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle on the icy heights of Kargil in Ladakh.
The day is observed as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the war.
“Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of extraordinary bravery, valour and determination of our armed forces. I bow to all the brave soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Mother India. The country will always be indebted to them and their family members. Jai Hind,” President Murmu, who is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, tweeted in Hindi.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said the nation will forever remain “indebted to the martyrs of Kargil for their supreme sacrifice”.
“On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay my humble tribute to our valiant soldiers who displayed unwavering patriotism and unmatched gallantry in protecting our nation in 1999,” Naidu’s office quoted him as saying in a tweet.
Naidu, who is also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, led the Upper House of Parliament in paying homage to the martyred soldiers.
He said Indian soldiers drove out enemy forces occupying the peaks of Kargil, resulting “in a momentous victory for our country”.
“The exemplary courage, selfless dedication, and unflinching determination displayed by our soldiers in adverse conditions will always be remembered. Their unparalleled valour and gallantry will continue to inspire generations after generations to dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation,” he added.
Paying tribute to the fallen heroes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said their acts of valour and indomitable spirit will forever remain etched as a defining moment in India’s history.
“On Kargil Vijay Diwas, India salutes the bravery, courage and sacrifice of our armed forces. They fought valiantly in extremely harsh conditions to defend our motherland,” he tweeted.
Singh, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
The Army organised a number of events in remembrance of its soldiers.
“Kargil War is testimony to the unparalleled saga of raw grit, stoic courage and unmatched resolve of the Indian soldier, fighting in adverse weather conditions in one of the most treacherous terrains,” the Army said in a statement.
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