ANDALIB AKHTER / NEW DELHI
India is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, named after the successful Operation Vijay, today.
On this date in 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan.
The Kargil war which was fought for more than 60 days and ended with India regaining control of all the previously held territory. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26th July every year in honour of the War Heroes.
On the occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, paid tributes at Chinar Corps Headquarters, Badamibag at Srinagar. President’s earlier programme of paying homage to war soldiers at Dras was cancelled due to bad weather.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the brave soldiers of Indian Army who laid down their lives protecting their motherland. In a tweet, he said, the day reminds us of the courage, bravery and dedication of our soldiers.
The Prime Minister also shared on twitter some photographs of his Kargil visit in 1999 and described his interaction with soldiers as unforgettable. He said, during the Kargil War, he had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with brave soldiers. Mr Modi said, he was working for his Party in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh at that time.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, three service chiefs along with three Service Vice Chiefs paid homage to Kargil Soldiers by laying wreath at National war memorial in New Delhi. Tributes were also paid to war heroes in Lok Sabha.
The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of the victory in Operation Vijay in Kargil began in Delhi on 14th of this month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leading the grateful country in paying homage to the soldiers in the national capital New Delhi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat paid tributes to the martyrs at National War Memorial where a Victory Flame was illuminated.
The Victory Flame traversed through eleven towns and cities and finally culminated at Dras where the flame was merged with the eternal flame at Kargil War Memorial. The central theme of this year’s celebrations is ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’.
Main celebrations have been spread over three days from 25th to 27th of this month. A Commemoration Ceremony is being organized at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, where a panel discussion with the war veterans and serving officers will be conducted. The event will be followed by Kargil Vijay Diwas Evening, a cultural extravaganza, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/documentary-ndtv-india/kargil-journey-of-victory-92950