PM Modi pays tribute to brave-hearts on Kargil Vijay Diwas in Drass

PM targets Oppn over Agnipath, says aim of scheme is to keep Army continuously fit for war

Kargil (Ladakh), July 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in the 1999 Kargil War. The Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memoria in Drass, Ladakh, on the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and all ranks of the armed forces also joined in remembering the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers during the Kargil war.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered his tributes to the valiant bravehearts of the Kargil War at the National War Memorial in the national capital Delhi.Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the unwavering resolve and valour of the brave soldiers of the army.“Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the unwavering resolve of the valor of the brave soldiers of the army.

In the Kargil war, the brave soldiers displayed the ultimate valor in the inaccessible hills of the Himalayas and forced the enemy army to kneel down, and made the country proud by hoisting the tricolour again in Kargil,” Shah posted on X.“Today on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ I salute the brave soldiers who protected the motherland with their courage in this war. The nation will never forget your sacrifice, dedication and sacrifice,” he added.On the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas today, families of the soldiers remember the bravery and dedication of their loved ones who laid their lives during the war between India and Pakistan at icy heights in 1999.Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999.During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

In a stern warning to Islamabad on the 25th anniversary of India’s victory in the Kargil conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Pakistan has been trying to stay relevant by using terrorism and proxy wars and Indian soldiers will crush all terror attempts with full force. Addressing a ceremony at the Kargil memorial in Dras, Modi said “falsehood and terror” were brought down to their knees by the truth in the 1999 war. He also noted that Pakistan has not learnt anything from its past.“Today, I am speaking at a place from where the masters of terror can hear my voice directly. I want to tell these patrons of terrorism that their nefarious intentions will never succeed,” Modi said in the presence of India’s top military brass.

Condemning terrorism, Modi said Pakistan has always faced defeat in the past and asserted that the evil intentions of terrorists will never be fulfilled.“Pakistan has not learnt anything from its past and has continued to wage war in the garb of terrorism and proxy wars to stay relevant,” he said.“Our bravehearts will trample all the terror attempts,” Modi asserted.The prime minister also paid glowing tributes to soldiers who had made supreme sacrifices in the Kargil war.“In Kargil, we not only won the war, we presented an incredible example of truth, restraint and strength,” he remarked.Kargil Vijay Diwas, the prime minister said, reminds us that the sacrifices made for the nation are immortal.

“The nation is forever indebted and deeply grateful to the mighty superheroes of our armed forces,” Modi said.On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of Operation Vijay, declaring victory after a nearly three-month 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 his remarks at the Shraddhanjali Samaroh, Modi said the victory in Kargil war was not of any government or any party.“This victory belongs to the country.”Recalling the days of the Kargil war, Modi said he was fortunate to be amidst soldiers back then and added that he still remembers how the soldiers carried out a difficult operation at such a height.

“I salute the brave sons of the country who made the supreme sacrifice to protect the motherland,” he said.“India will overcome all challenges that come in the way of development, be it Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.The abrogation of Article 370, Modi reminded, will complete five years on August 5 and today’s Jammu and Kashmir is talking about a new future full of dreams.Modi gave examples of progress in Jammu and Kashmir and mentioned G20 meetings being held in the union territory.

“This heaven on earth is swiftly moving in the direction of peace and prosperity,” the prime minister added. Before his address, Modi remotely carried out the “first blast” of the strategic Shinkun La Tunnel project that will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh.“This tunnel will open doors of new possibilities for the development and better future of Ladakh,” he said.The prime minister said the tunnel will make the lives of people of Ladakh easier given the numerous hardships they face due to the region’s extreme weather.Underlining the government’s efforts to boost ease of living and provide more services for the people of Ladakh, Modi mentioned an approximate six-time increase in the budget from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 6,000 crore in the last five years.“Be it roads, electricity, water, education, power supply, employment, every direction of Ladakh is transforming,” he said.

Referring to the ambitious targets for the border areas, the prime minister informed that the Border Road Organisation (BRO) has completed more than 330 projects, including the Sela Tunnel, showcasing “New India’s” capabilities and direction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Agnipath scheme is an example of necessary reforms undertaken by the Army and accused the opposition of playing politics over the recruitment process aimed at keeping the average age in armed forces young. In his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas here to mark the 25th anniversary of victory in Kargil war, Modi said some people were playing politics over a sensitive issue related to national security and rubbished claims that the Agnipath scheme was launched to save pension money.

“The aim of Agnipath is to make the forces young…The aim of Agnipath is to keep the armies continuously fit for war,” he said.“Unfortunately, such a sensitive issue related to national security has been made a subject of politics by some people. Some people are playing politics of lies for their personal interests even on this reform of the army,” he said.The prime minister said Angipath scheme is an example of necessary reforms done by the army.“For decades, there have been discussions in Parliament and various committees on making the armed forces younger. The average age of Indian soldiers being higher than the global average has been a matter of concern,” he added.He said this issue was raised in many committees for years but the will to resolve this national security challenge was not shown earlier.

“The country has addressed this concern through the Agnipath scheme,” he said.Hitting out at the opposition, Modi said, “These are the same people who weakened our forces by committing scams worth thousands of crores in the forces.”He said these people did not want the Indian Air Force to get modern fighter jets and they had “made preparations to lock the Tejas fighter plane in a box.”The prime minister also rubbished the claims that Agnipath scheme was launched to save pension money.“Some people are also spreading the misconception that the government has come up with this scheme to save pension money. I want to ask such people, the question of pension for today’s recruits will arise after 30 years.Why would the government take a decision today,” he asked.

Modi said his government has respected the decision taken by the forces as “for us the security of the country is paramount, not politics”.“Those who are misleading the youth of the country…history is witness to the fact that they do not care about the soldiers. These are the same people who lied about One Rank One Pension by showing Rs 500 crore. It is our government which implemented One Rank One Pension and gave more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore to ex-servicemen,” he added.