Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Saturday, paid tributes to martyred soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass as part of the week-long celebrations of 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
"I salute all those warriors of Kargil War who sacrificed everything for the sake of the nation. The courage and valour of the martyrs is a lesson to all Indians today," Singh wrote on the Visitors Book at the war memorial.
Singh dedicated a 'Memory Lane', which displays information on a few battles fought by the Indian Army, on the occasion. The 'Memory Lane' recapitulates the gallant deeds of the brave Indian Army officers, junior commissioned officers and jawans who fought against all odds to rid the Indian territory of enemy intruders, according to statement issued by the ministry of defence.
The minister, while interacting with the troops, reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. He was briefed by Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi, general officer commanding the Leh based XIV Corps. Also known as 'Fire & Fury Corps', the XIV Corps was formed in the wake of Kargil War.
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Lt. General Joshi, a Kargil War hero, spoke to the minister about the different battles fought during the Kargil conflict.
In 1999, Indian troops successfully recaptured several mountain tops overlooking the strategic Srinagar-Leh Highway from Pakistani intruders despite hostile weather and terrain. A 'Victory Flame' was lit by Rajnath Singh on July 14 at the National War Memorial in Delhi to commemorate India's triumph. The flame will travel through nine towns and cities before reaching Drass on July 26 to be merged with the eternal flame at the Kargil War Memorial.
According to a statement by the Army, the theme of 20th anniversary of 'Operation Vijay' is 'Remember, Rejoice and Renew' and troops from three battalions will undertake expeditions to the peaks, where their units had fought under impossible conditions to drive out the intruders.
Later in the day, the defence minister would inaugurate two bridge projects on the rivers Ujh in Kathua district and Basantar in Samba district of Jammu division. These two bridges are significant for border security and connectivity. The Ujh bridge is one kilometre-long and the Basantar bridge is 617.4 metres.
Speaking on the occasion in Kathua, the defence minister appealed to those who are running running a movement in Kashmir to sit down for talks once again. “The Kashmir problem will get solved. No power in the world can stop it. If somebody does not want a solution through talks, then we know very well how a solution can be found,” Singh said.
