An appeal to all citizens of India to join in commemorating the valour and bravery of India's invincible soldiers on the Kargil Vijay Divas on 26 Jul 2016.
Dear Citizens of India,
1. We wish to remind the people of India
that seventeen years back on 26 Jul 1999, demonstrating raw courage,
indomitable valour, steely grit and unshakable determination, our Defence
Forces recaptured every inch of our mother land and either killed or threw back
every Pakistani infiltrator who had deceptively and treacherously occupied the
heights in Kargil Region while our then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee was extending his hands of friendship to Pakistan in Lahore.
2. During
this War 527 Jawans, JCOs and Officers achieved martyrdom and over 1367 were
seriously wounded and disabled. This war was fought at the heights
of over 16000 feet in the most inhospitable, rugged, tough and steep mountain
ridges. Perhaps there is no parallel in world history where military
operations were launched and victory gained in such a short span of time at
such altitude on the lofty mountains. To honour the bravery and
valour of our soldiers “who
sacrificed their today for
your tomorrow” the President of India awarded four Pram Vir Chakra (PVC),
Nine Maha Vir Chakras (MVC) and 55 Vir Chakras (VrC). Capt Vikram Batra,
13 JAK Rif (posthumas ), Lt Manoj Pandey 1/11 Gorkha Rifles (posthumous ),
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav 18 Grenadiers and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar 13 JAK
Rif were the recipients of highest Gallantry award of PVC.
3.
Media coverage of the war was also of an exceptional standard as No of senior
reporters now especially Barkha Dutt were in the Bunkers with the jawans where
constant enemy shelling was being carried out. They also did not hesitate to
put their life to great danger to give prompt and correct media coverage to one
of the greatest Military Saga at such inhospitable heights.
4. The
Pakistani intruders had positioned themselves on Tololing Top, Tiger Hill, Pt
4875, Pt 4590, Pt 5100 and Pt 5140. The names of these hilltops
(points) became familiar to the people of India as these were getting reported
in the Press and Electronic Media during successes of Indian
Forces. Capt Vikram Batra played a sterling role in the capture of
feature Pt 5140, a critical peak from the point of view that it overlooked the
Srinagar – Leh highway which was important for logistics and supply of
reinforcements for the Indian Army. Its capture facilitated in
the subsequent capture of other hill tops ie Pt 4750, 4875 and Tiger Hill and
finally led to an eventual victory of India.
5. After
the capture of pt 5140, Capt Vikram Batra radioed his
commanding officer and said the success signal “Yeh Dil
Mange More” The words later went on to become a motivational slogan
during the war and is used even today at various occasions like the
Vijay Divas. In a letter to his parents he had also written
that “Ya to Tiranga
Lehra ke Aaoonga, Nahi to is mein lipat ke Aaoonga”
6. The
Defence Forces of India are the toughest and the most patriotic forces in the
world. They have always proved their worth during external and
internal threats. They are the strongest pillars of our
democracy. Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) working for
the welfare of Defence Personnel requests all citizens of India to join in
commemorating the valour and bravery of soldiers on the Kargil Vijay Divas on
26 Jul 2016. All citizens are requested to light a candle at
the main gate of their homes at 8 PM on 26 Jul 2016 and after saying a
prayer for those brave hearts who never returned, place a marigold (Genda) or
other flowers next to it as a silent tribute.
6. At
National Capital Region (NCR), the people are requested to reach JM at 5.30 PM
from where we will march towards India Gate at 6 PM, reorganize and light
candles there at 7.30 PM onwards as a mark of respect to the
Martyrs. Kargil Vijay Divas is also being commemorated in others
parts of the country. All
those who are unable to reach Jantar Mantar may do so directly at India Gate at
7 PM.
“Lets us join hands to salute the brave soldiers of India”
“Jad Dulda Khoon Shaheedan da,
Taqdeer Badaldi kauman Di”
Taqdeer Badaldi kauman Di”
Above couplet in Punjabi written on the forts of PESHAWER and SRINAGAR
during the Sikh Army Victories means when soldiers blood is shed it changes the
future and fortune of the Nations for good
With
regards,
Yours
Sincerely,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
It is the same Indian army which allowed enemy to occupy its strategic heights, while they slept. The Corps and Div Cdr should have been sent home, which they weren't.
ReplyDeletePatriotism doesn't lie in celebrating something that others have done for the country but in doing the same yourself. This is a typical BJP sentiment
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