Nation remembers Kargil martyrs

Ahead of the launch of the nation’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine in Visakhapatnam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying homage to the Kargil martyrs here on Sunday morning, on the 10th anniversary of the victory over Pakistan.

Accompanied by senior leadership of the Defence Ministry and the three armed services, Dr. Singh saluted the memory of the 610 officers and men who lost their lives in the 59-day war with Pakistan in 1999. Buglers sounded the Last Post, as the Prime Minister took salute. A two-minute silence was also observed. Writing in the visitors book at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the Prime Minister said: “I join the entire nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in defence of Indian unity and integrity.”

Further, according to the Prime Minister, the best tribute to the martyrs would be to “dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of nation-building and work steadfastly to protect the unity and integrity of our nation.”
Emotional reunion

PTI reports from Drass:

The sound of the Last Post in memory of the Kargil heroes reverberated from the capital to the erstwhile battle zones of Ladakh, where families of many of the slain soldiers gathered for the first time in 10 years.

“After the demise of my son, it is the only happy day of my life. I am thankful that my son is finally recognised and remembered,” said S.P. Kalia, father of Lt. Saurabh Kalia, who was among the first casualties of the Kargil conflict and was captured and brutally tortured by the Pakistani forces.

Mr. Kalia is in Drass, along with the tearful but proud family members of hundreds of slain soldiers. It was an emotional reunion of sorts, as the kin gathered from all over the country at the invitation of the armed forces to attend the 10th anniversary of the Vijay Diwas. While wreaths were laid at the War Memorial amid a majestic flypast by MiG-21 Bison and showering of petals by Chetak helicopters, the relatives got an account of the bravery of their loved ones from the personnel of the forces, colleagues and friends.