India is celebrating the 20th anniversary of victory in the Kargil War today also known as the Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Remembering India’s victory in ‘Operation Vijay’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, chiefs of the Indian armed forces and other leaders paid tributes to the bravehearts.
Remembering his time with the soldiers during the Kargil War in 1999, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted describing how he had got an opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with the brave soldiers.
During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers.
This was the time when I was working for my Party in J&K as well as Himachal Pradesh.
The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/E5QUgHlTDS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2019
President Ram Nath Kovind paid tributes to the Armed forces. “We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned,” he tweeted.
On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999.
We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned.
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 26, 2019
Meanwhile, Kovind paid homage at the Chinar Corps War Memorial in Srinagar earlier in the day. He will celebrate the 20 years of Kargil Vijay Divas at Badami Bagh Cantonment here. The President was supposed to visit Drass memorial, but due to bad weather, his visit was cancelled.
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh paid tributes at Kargil War Memorial in Dras.
Meanwhile, the flypast by the fighter aircraft that took part in the Kargil war, was called off due to bad weather at Drass.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage at National War Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted tributes to the brave soldiers.
‘करगिल विजय दिवस’ भारतीय सेना के साहस और शौर्य का प्रतीक है। यह हमारे वीर जवानों का पराक्रम ही था जिसने पाकिस्तानी सेना को करगिल की दुर्गम पहाड़ियों से खदेड़ कर युद्ध में विजय प्राप्त की। भारतीय सेना की यह शौर्यगाथा आज भी हर भारतीय को गौरवान्वित करती है।
हमारे वीर जवानों को नमन। pic.twitter.com/ilozmRoXgS— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 26, 2019
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tributes at Shaheed Samarak in Mumbai’s Colaba.
Meanwhile, a park dedicated to the Indian soldiers has been constructed in Karnataka’s Shivamogga and will be inaugurated today.
“Let’s pay homage to the Kargil martyrs and salute the courage, valour and sacrifice of our bravehearts. Let’s remember the supreme sacrifice made by the brave soldiers of India, to uphold and safeguard the integrity of the nation,” said Indian Air Force.
“26 July immortalised as Kargil Vijay Diwas is saga of glorious victory of the Nation during Kargil Conflict in May-July 1999. #IndianArmy soldiers fought legendary battles in Drass, Kaksar, Batalik & Turtok sectors. #Salute to the courage, valour & sacrifice of our martyrs & heroes,” tweeted Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army).
Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers on Friday paid tributes to the heroes of the Kargil War by remembering the valour of the soldiers who took part in Operation Vijay.
“Remembering and saluting the brave soldiers of the Indian Army, whose courage and valour was immortalised during the Kargil war. Their heroic acts will remain etched as defining moments in the nation’s history,” Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the heroes would never die and “if they do, they will live in the hearts of the people.”
“Let’s honour and salute the victorious Kargil heroes who sacrificed their lives for the motherland’s peace and prosperity,” Khattar tweeted.
India is celebrating the victory with a series of events this month.
The theme of the celebrations will be ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’, the Defence Ministry had earlier said.
The main celebrations are spread over three days from 25-27 July being organised at Dras in Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi.
The celebrations in the national capital began on 14 July, with the illumination of a Victory Flame from the National War Memorial.
Tomorrow, a cultural extravaganza titled ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas Evening’ will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Army has released its New Year calendar, “20 Years of Kargil” to pay homage to all the soldiers who fought in the war, lost their lives or were severely injured.
On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army drove out Pakistani forces and militants who had captured territories in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. The war fought for more than 60 days, finally concluded on July 26, 1999. Since then, Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on July 26 every year to honour the heroes who fought for the country.