India Commemorates Kargil Vijay Diwas: Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Pay Tribute to Fallen Heroes

On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of the 1999 Kargil war, hailing them as an inspiration for the nation.

He expressed his heartfelt salute to the bravehearts of India through a tweet saying, "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. Long live India!"

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras to honor the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict.

The solemn event was attended by several dignitaries, including Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

Four MIG 29 aircraft and three Cheetal helicopters of Army Aviation flew past the war memorial, showering flower petals to mark the 24th anniversary of the war.

The Army Chief General Manoj Pande also paid homage to the bravehearts of the Kargil War, the Indian Army twitter handle tweeted.

Gen Pande also interacted with the family members of the fallen heroes, and felicitated the veterans and gallant heroes of the war.

Political leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, also paid their respects to the brave soldiers.

The Kargil Vijay Diwas commemoration, spanning two days, commenced in Ladakh's Dras with a tribute to the 559 martyred soldiers. The event featured a cultural program and interactions with veterans and gallantry award winners, where the families of the fallen soldiers were honored.

The Kargil War, fought in the summer of 1999, witnessed the Indian Army's indomitable spirit and sacrifice.

It aimed to evict Pakistan regular forces who had intruded into Indian territory, leading to 527 casualties on the Indian side. Every year, the nation observes Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, commemorating India's victory over Pakistan during the 55-day war.

Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary bravery and determination displayed by Indian soldiers during the conflict, forcing the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from the occupied positions along the Line of Control (LoC).

The sacrifices made by these valiant heroes continue to be honored, and their memory remains etched in the nation's collective consciousness.