Kargil Vijay Diwas at Drass: Army inaugurates 3 projects
*World saw India’s indigenous weapons during Op Sindoor: Seth
*New Brigade ‘Rudra’ to come up, strike force ‘Bhairav’ raised: Army chief
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 26: Union Minister for Sports Mansukh Mandaviya today said being victorious is our nature as he called upon youth across the country and people to perform duties and responsibilities towards the nation.
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Mandaviya along with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth led hundreds of youths in a padyatra at Drass to pay tribute to the martyrs on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ in district Kargil in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi also paid tribute to the martyrs, addressed the troops and inaugurated three projects in Kargil.
Mandaviya joined by Seth led hundreds of youths in a padyatra in Drass and paid tribute to the soldiers who attained martyrdom during nearly three-month long Kargil war in 1999 which concluded on July 26 with the Indian victory. Everyday July 26 is celebrated as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’. Click here to watch video
In his address, Mandaviya urged the participants to dedicate themselves to building a strong and developed India, guided by the “Nation First” spirit.
“We have always been victorious. Being victorious is our nature. Through this padyatra, we want to send a message to the young blood across the country that we all pledge to perform our duties and responsibilities towards the nation,” the Union Sports Minister, who reached Drass yesterday and addressed various cultural and other functions, said.
“Kargil is not just a place in history, it is a living symbol of India’s resilience and unwavering spirit. It stands as a powerful reminder that when it comes to protecting the sovereignty of our nation, India remains united, resolute, and unshaken,” Mandaviya said.
He called upon the youth to dedicate themselves to the mission of building a strong, self-reliant, and developed India, driven by the spirit of ‘Nation First.’ Reflecting on his recent visit to Sando Top, he added, “India has never initiated conflict, but when provoked, we respond with courage, dignity, and determination.”
He highlighted India’s growing strategic capabilities, citing the significance of Operation Vijay and Operation Sindoor as milestones in the nation’s military history. He reaffirmed that India’s Armed Forces continue to stand as the steadfast guardians of national pride and sovereignty.
Emphasizing the critical role of Amrit Peedhi, Dr. Mandaviya urged them to take up the mantle of Jan Bhagidari (public participation) in Rashtranirman (nation-building) and contribute actively to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. “It is now upon our yuva shakti to carry forward the dreams of our brave soldiers and help shape a stronger, Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
Mandaviya and Seth laid wreaths at the Kargil War Memorial at Drass.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta also paid floral tribute as Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi led other top officers of the Armed Forces in paying homage to the 545 soldiers who laid down their lives during the conflict with Pakistan in 1999. Kargil Hill Council chief Dr Jaffer Akhoon was also present.
The next of kin of the martyrs and local residents were among the first to lay wreaths at the war memorial as they began arriving as early as 6 am. Later, helicopters flew over the memorial and showered flower petals as a mark of respect.
The Last Post ceremony was held as a mark of respect for the martyrs, serving as a mark of the culmination of the wreath-laying ceremony.
In his address, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth praised the energy of the youngsters and the sacrifices of the armed forces.
“The country remembers the stupidity which Pakistan did on May 6, 1999. The entire country remembers when India’s brave soldiers gave a fitting response to it. Be it a surgical strike, an air strike, or Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army is no less than any other,” Seth said.
“I also salute the soldiers who are on the borders, hundreds of kilometers away, protecting the tricolor and serving India. Today marks 26 years of Kargil Vijay, and I pay my respects to everyone who gave their all,” he added.
Seth further mentioned how the whole world was ‘bewildered’ when India used its indigenous weapons to give a befitting reply to April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
He said during Operation Sindoor, India attacked Pakistan’s terror bases using its indigenous weapons, and that is why the world is bewildered that Indian forces destroyed the intentions of Pakistan within a few minutes.
The MoS Defence also highlighted the self-reliance of India’s defence industry, reiterating the Government’s target of achieving Rs 3 lakh crore defence exports by 2029.
“India is no longer an importer. Today, we are exporting defence weapons to nearly 92 countries. Remember those days? Our exports have been around Rs 30,622 crore, our target is to export Rs 50,000 crore and Rs 3 lakh crore in 2029. PM Modi’s vision is to make India ‘Aatamnirbhar’ and the Defence Minister provides motivation to the Indian army. We are now 75% Atamnirbhar,” he said.
Meanwhile, Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said that the surgical strikes carried out during Operation Sindoor were a clear message to Pakistan that supporters of terrorism will not be spared.
Northern Command chief Lt Gen Pratik Sharma also paid tribute to the martryrs at Drass.
“Operation Sindoor was a message to Pakistan as well as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which was a deep wound for the entire nation. This time India did not only mourn but showed that the response will be decisive,” Gen Dwivedi said at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass while addressing the gathering.
“A stern response to the adversary was the new normal established by India,” he added and said the faith shown by the countrymen and the free hand given by the Government, the Indian Army gave a befitting surgical response.
During Operation Sindoor, Gen Dwivedi said, the Army eliminated nine high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan with zero collateral damage.
“India attained a decisive victory by effective targeting of terror infrastructure in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The Army targeted the terrorist infrastructure and foiled the other aggressive moves of Pakistan to attain a decisive victory,” he said.
The Army chief said Indian gave peace a chance, but Pakistan resorted to cowardice.
“The Pakistani action on May 8 and 9 was responded to effectively. Our Army and Air Defence stood like an impregnable wall which could not be breached by any missile or drones,” he said.
He said the Indian Army is on its way to becoming a force to reckon with in the world.
“Rudra, all of brigade, is being established for which I gave an approval yesterday. Under this, we will have infantry, mechanized infantry, armoured units, artillery, special forces and unmanned aerial units at one place to provide logistics and combat support,” the Army chief said.
The Army has formed a Special Strike Force Bhairav Light Commando Unit, which is “always ready to surprise the enemy at the border.”
Dwivedi said, “Every infantry battalion now has a drone platoon. In the artillery, the Shaktiban regiment has been set up, which will be equipped with a drone, counter-drone, and loiter munition. Every regiment will have a composite battery equipped with these things.”
The Army chief said our capability will increase manifold in coming days as we are equipping the army air defence systems with indigenous missiles.
Recalling the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the silver jubilee celebrations last year, the military chief said the presence of top leaders shows that it is not only an army day but a festival for the entire nation.
“The nation is safe due to the sacrifices made by the heroes at the icy heights. We remember their dedication and determination, and we bow to the brave heroes who laid down their lives so that we can live a peaceful life with dignity,” he added.
The Army chief also launched three projects, including a portal where people can pay ‘e-shradhanjali’ to martyrs, as part of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas.
The others were a QR code-based audio gateway, on which people can listen to the stories of the 1999 Kargil war battles fought, and the Indus Viewpoint, which offers people a chance to go up to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Batalik sector.
The citizens can now pay e-shradhanjali to the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for the country without visiting the memorial.
The project is aimed at sensitising people about the sacrifices made by the armed forces and the hardships they faced while discharging their duties.
The other project launched was a QR code application, where people can listen to stories about the various battles that were waged to fight off Pakistani intruders in 1999.
The concept is similar to museums, where the visitors can listen to the details of the exhibits using earphones. Here, people will get to listen to the saga of courage, valour, bravery and sacrifice by the soldiers.
Indus Viewpoint, another project launched, will allow visitors to go up to the LoC in the Batalik sector.
This will give an idea to the visitors about the conditions in which soldiers serve, the difficulties and constant dangers they face on a day-to-day basis to ensure that the nation remains safe.
Batalik was one of the main battlegrounds during the Kargil war.
Located at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, Batalik was the focal point of the Kargil war due to its strategic location between Kargil, Leh, and Baltistan.
The small village in the Indus River valley has now become a major tourist attraction.
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