Tricolor on Kargil Heights fills every Indian with pride: Kavinder Gupta
Drass, Jul 26: Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta led the Union Territory in paying rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Drass War Memorial, here.
Terming the 1999 victory as an immortal saga of victory, the LG saluted the patriotism and indomitable courage of the martyrs, while calling upon the people of Ladakh and the country to ensure that their sacrifice does not go in vain.
LG Gupta laid floral tributes and saluted the valour of the Indian soldiers in the main function organized here, in the presence of Union Sports Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who was the chief guest at the ceremony; Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth; Chairman and CEC of LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon; Chief of Army Staff, Gen Upendra Dwivedi and several other dignitaries.
Speaking to media persons after the event, the Lt Governor said the nation is always indebted to martyrs who gave the supreme sacrifice of their lives for the safety and security of the people of India.
“It is a day to remember forever, which invokes a sense of nationalism in us, even to sacrifice our lives for the nation if needed. The nation has always given us more, and now it is time to give something back to the country,” he said.
Earlier in a social media post, LG Gupta said that Kargil Vijay Diwas is the the day to remember the unparalleled valour, sacrifice, and bravery of Mother India’s brave sons — who laid down their lives for the nation’s defense in the Kargil War and scripted an immortal saga of victory. “We pay countless salutes to their heroism, patriotism, and indomitable courage. This day inspires us to resolve that we will not let their sacrifice go in vain. The tricolor flag hoisted on the heights of Kargil, fills every Indian heart with pride and honor,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday also paid tributes to the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War by laying a wreath at the war memorial in Ladakh’s Drass, marking the 26th anniversary of India’s victory in the high-altitude conflict.
Standing in the shadow of the mountains where the Indian Armed Forces etched one of their most valiant chapters in history, Khandu described the Kargil victory as not just a military triumph, but also a symbol of unmatched courage and unity.
“From the icy winds of Drass to the steep climb of Tiger Hill, our brave soldiers fought not just for territory, but for honour, for each other, and for every citizen who sleeps in peace tonight,” Khandu wrote in a series of social media posts.
“They reclaimed every inch with courage. Their bravery roared through fire. And their sacrifice echoes in the very soil of this land we call home,” he wrote in a heartfelt tribute.
Recalling the events of May 1999, when Pakistani intrusions led to one of the fiercest mountain battles since World War II, Khandu said the response of Indian forces embodied the resilience and unity of the nation.
“In May 1999, our heights were seized in a betrayal that cut deep. But what followed was not just a military operation, it was a testament to the spirit of India,” he remarked in a post on X.
“Operation Vijay was a story of young men climbing into the jaws of death with grit in their hearts and the tricolour in their hands,” the chief minister said.
At the memorial, Khandu also met Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, the General Officer Commanding of the prestigious Fire & Fury Corps, one of the most revered formations in the Indian Army.
“Lt Gen Bhalla leads a formation that walks in the footsteps of giants. His calm authority and dedication reflect the ethos of every soldier who once held these heights, and those who hold them still,” Khandu noted.
“The Fire & Fury Corps doesn’t just defend land. It safeguards a legacy,” he said.
Concluding his tribute, Khandu emphasised the everlasting gratitude of a nation that stands tall today because of its warriors.
“Forever in our hearts. Forever our heroes. Jai Hind,” the chief minister added.
