Kargil Vijay Diwas: Tributes pour in for India’s bravehearts

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday paid tributes to the soldiers who fought the 1999 war with Pakistan on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

In a tweet, the President said, “Today, on the glorious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, all the countrymen remember the victory achieved by the extraordinary valor of our armed forces. On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay tribute and bow to the memory of the fighters who paved the way for victory by sacrificing their lives to protect the country. Their heroic stories will always inspire generations to come. Jai Hind.”

The Prime Minister in a tweet said, “Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen. On this special day, I bow down and salute him from the bottom of my heart. Jai Hind.”

While remembering the soldiers, Shah said, “Kargil Vijay Diwas is the day of victory for the honor of crores of countrymen. It is a day to pay tribute to all the mighty warriors who defended every inch of their motherland with their sky high spirits and steely determination like a mountain. With their sacrifice, the brave soldiers of India not only kept the pride and glory of their motherland, but also kept their traditions of winning alive.

“On behalf of the grateful nation, I salute your dedication to keep the integrity of the country intact by hoisting the tricolor proudly again on the inaccessible hills of Kargil,” Shah added.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi also paid tributes to the soldiers.

In a tweet, Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, “Greetings to the valiant soldiers of our Armed Forces, their families and to all the fellow Indians on Kargil Vijay Diwas. Salutations to the martyrdom of our bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice defending our motherland in the Kargil War. We are proud of them. Their unflinching courage and valour shall inspire generations. Jai Hind.”

Recalling the supreme sacrifices made by the soldiers, Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, “Salute to all the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice protecting India’s border on Kargil Vijay Diwas. The country will always remain indebted to them. Jai Hind.”

Several programmes are being held across the country to mark the day.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate the war fought between May and July 26, 1999, against Pakistani intruders, who in the winters of 1998 had entered the Indian territory across the Line of Control and occupied fortified defences overlooking the NH 1A in Kargil’s Drass and Batalik sectors of Ladakh region with an aim of dominating all military and civil movements.

IANS