Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday saluted ‘valour’ and ‘courage’ of the soldiers, who had sacrificed their lives in the 1999 Kargil War, on behalf of the ‘grateful’ nation, at a memorial in Drass sector, marking 20th anniversary of ‘Operation Vijay’.
“The Defence Minister started his visit by laying a wreath in memory of the gallant martyrs of ‘Operation Vijay’ at the iconic Kargil War Memorial, which was followed by observing of one-minute silence as a mark of respect for the fallen heroes,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
Singh later visited the ‘Veer Bhoomi’ and the ‘Hut of Remembrance’, which are located in the war memorial premises at Drass, he said.
The defence minister was briefed on ‘Operation Vijay’ and the heroic actions of the Indian troops to thwart the nefarious designs of the enemy in the Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors, the spokesman said.
Singh was accompanied by Union minister Jitendra Singh, chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and General Officer Commanding in chief Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Kalia said.
On the occasion, Rajnath Singh dedicated a ‘Memory Lane’ that displays information on a few important battles, he said.
Lieutenant General YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding Fire & Fury Corps, a veteran of ‘Operation Vijay’, briefed the defence minister at Lamochan View Point on various battles that took place during the 1999 war.
Ahead of his day long visit to the state, Pakistan violated ceasefire agreement along the line of control in Poonch sector. According to ground reports, Pakistan army targeted civilian pockets using mortar shells in Balnoi, Krishna Ghati, Mankote and Shahpur areas of Poonch. In response, Indian army retaliated effectively and strongly. One civilian received bullet injuries on his right hand and was shifted to the district hospital in Poonch.
During his visit to the state, Defence Minister also sent out a stern warning to the Kashmiri politicians, who stayed away from the dialogue table, to decide whether they want to accept the dialogue offer or not.
Without naming any one Singh asserted, “the Kashmir issue will be resolved and no power on the earth can stop it”.
Interacting with the media in Kathua, Defence Minister said, “Kashmir ki samasya ka hal ho key raheyga, duniya ki koi taqat nahi rook shakti hai (Resolution of Kashmir issue is bound to happen and no power on earth can stop it).”
“If talks will not be fruitful then we know how to tackle this problem”,he added.
Singh maintained that he has made repeated appeals as a home minister asking “so-called leaders” for talks to resolve the issue. “Now it is up to them. They have to decide what they want to do”.Singh was commenting to a specific query whether fresh invitation would be extended to the kashmiri leaders to join the dialogue table.
Referring to his bonding with the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath Singh said Kashmir is in his heart and the government wants it to become not only paradise of India but tourist paradise of the world.
He also inaugurated two bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation at Ujh in Kathua and Basantar in Samba district.
The bridge over the Ujh river in Kathua was constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crore. Lt Gen Harpal Singh, Director General Border Roads, Maj Gen Y P Khanduri, GOC, Gurj Division alongwith many other Army & Civil administration dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony. It is the longest bridge constructed by BRO so far. Both these bridges have been constructed under 69 Road Construction Company of 13 Border Roads Task Force under supervision of Project Sampark.
