Nation Remembers Heroes: From PM Modi To Prez Murmu, Leaders Pay Homage To Fallen Soldiers On Kargil Vijay Diwas
Extending greetings on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the unmatched bravery of the Indian soldiers, stating that the day serves as a reminder of their unparalleled courage and sacrifice. 'This occasion reminds us of the unparalleled courage and valour of those brave sons of Mother India who dedicated their lives to protect the nation's pride. Their passion to sacrifice everything for the motherland will continue to inspire every generation,' he posted on X.
President Droupadi Murmu also paid her respects, saying that the day symbolises the extraordinary determination and heroism of the Indian soldiers. She emphasized that the supreme sacrifices made by these heroes will forever inspire the citizens of India. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remembered the Kargil warriors with reverence, affirming that their gallantry will always be a source of pride for the nation. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge too expressed deep gratitude, saying the heroism of the soldiers will forever be etched in the nation's memory.
Commemorations also took place in Drass, Ladakh, where families of the fallen soldiers gathered at the Lamochen Viewpoint to pay emotional tributes. The solemn ceremony included heartfelt stories and recollections from loved ones who lost their family members in the war. Rajesh, the brother of a soldier who was martyred at Tiger Hill, recalled his brother's diary, where he had written that he might not return from the battlefield. 'He told us he wasn't involved in the action, but after his death, we read his diary and discovered the truth. He wrote that he handed over the diary to a friend before going up the hill,' Rajesh said with emotion.
Another family member, Surekha Shinde, expressed her pride in attending the event and honouring her brother, who had served the country for five years before the war began. 'I feel proud coming to this place, and I thank the army for this invitation,' she said.
Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed every year on July 26, marks the victory of Indian Armed Forces in Operation Vijay, which led to the successful eviction of Pakistani intruders from the high-altitude positions in Kargil, Ladakh. The war, lasting over 60 days, ended with India reclaiming the strategic peaks that had been occupied during the winter of 1999.
The conflict is remembered not only for the valour of the soldiers but also for the strategic and tactical brilliance of India's military leadership. The Indian Air Force's Operation Safed Sagar played a pivotal role during the war, marking the first large-scale use of air power in Kashmir since 1971. Launched on May 26, 1999, it demonstrated the effectiveness of limited and precise air strikes in high-altitude warfare, without crossing international borders.
As the country remembers the indomitable spirit of its heroes, Kargil Vijay Diwas continues to stand as a powerful symbol of national pride, sacrifice, and resilience—a reminder that the bravery of those who fought for the motherland will never be forgotten.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indus Water Treaty Favoured Pakistan, Left India With Little Share: Lt Gen Vinod Khandare
Nagpur: Retired Lieutenant General Vinod Khandare, former Principal Advisor to the Union Ministry of Defence during Operation Sindoor , has termed the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 as "unfair and biased towards Pakistan ." Speaking at a Jansamvaad event organised by Janmanch NGO, Khandare stated that the political leadership of the time gave away significant control over India's river resources, leaving the country with a disproportionately small share of the Indus waters. "The Indus River, originating from the Himalayas, carries a large amount of silt and sludge that used to accumulate in our dams," he said. "We wanted to de-silt it for efficiency, but were told the treaty doesn't permit us. Despite this, we cleaned the river." Khandare pointed out that the river flows from Indian states like Punjab and Haryana into Pakistan's Punjab, significantly boosting their agriculture. "They reaped harvests, earned revenue, and used that very money to fund terrorism against us," he said, underscoring the strategic imbalance the treaty has created. He added that all that changed in 2016, after a team of experts were appointed to asses and review the pact. General Khandare also raised alarms over China's covert meteorological manipulation program. According to him, China's Department of Weather Modification, with over 37,000 personnel, has been closely studying Indian monsoon patterns. "We discovered one of their meteorological sensors in the Bay of Bengal," he revealed, adding that China intends to redirect rain clouds meant for the Indian subcontinent towards Tibet and Sichuan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Search & compare rates from major search-engines, along with local, reputable engines. Hotel Deals | Search Ads Browse Now Undo The motive, he said, is to support Beijing's industrial shift from its eastern coastal belt to inland provinces. Touching upon India's evolving defence posture, Khandare highlighted Operation Sindoor as a turning point. "The military had full operational control without political interference, which enabled decisive surgical strikes and air operations like the one at Jabbar Top," he said. The operation targeted terrorist launchpads and training facilities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, sending a strong message that no safe havens would be tolerated. Cyber warfare, he warned, is the new front. "Smartphones can now be weaponised. Cyberattacks, like the one that paralysed Estonia in 2008, can happen here too." He called for urgent investment in cyber resilience and civil defence, citing India's inadequate infrastructure—no public sirens in cities like Nagpur, and lack of shelters in urban areas, unlike Europe or Israel. "India's civil defence infrastructure remains alarmingly inadequate in the face of growing conventional and unconventional threats. Unlike countries like Israel, where every building has a shelter, or Europe, where metros are built underground for protection, Indian cities are ill-equipped. Nagpur, for example, lacks even basic sirens," Khandare said. General Vinod Khandare pointed out that while our armed forces may be battle-ready, the country lacks systems to protect its citizens in times of crisis or war. He further stressed the need for reforms in India's defence production. "With 41 ordnance factories underperforming, joint ventures and privatisation are no longer optional—they are essential," Khandare concluded by stating that only a self-reliant, strategically alert, and technologically equipped India can deter the evolving threats in a turbulent global order.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
10 years, 375 Sundays: PM Modi praises Lucknow team's efforts to clean Gomti
Lucknow: Lauding the efforts by the public at the grassroots level to make cities and towns clean, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on Sunday, acknowledged a team's tireless commitment to cleaning the Gomti river every Sunday for the past 10 years. Without naming individuals, he said, "Every Sunday for the last 10 years, tirelessly, without stopping, the members of this team are engaged in the cleanliness work." The team referred to is led by Ranjit Singh, corporator of Mankameshwar Ward, who, along with dozens of dedicated volunteers, has been conducting the weekly cleanliness drive under the 'Swachh Paryavaran Andolan Sena'. On Sunday, marking the 375th consecutive week of the campaign, around 5 quintals of waste were removed from the riverbed at Jhulelal Ghat. About 60 volunteers participated in the drive, which lasted two hours in the morning. "This is not about publicity. We don't do it for photos. It's about real work, real impact," said a volunteer. Expressing gratitude over the PM's words, the corporator said, "It is an honour that our small but consistent efforts reached the ears of the Prime Minister. This recognition boosted our morale and inspired us to keep serving the river selflessly." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adam Lambert, 43, Takes off His Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo Irrespective of the weather conditions, the cleanliness activity is carried out round the year, he highlighted. Mayor Sushma Kharakwal also appreciated the consistent efforts of Singh. She mentioned that the team remained active not only during special occasions like the chief minister's birthday or River Yoga events, but has been working for years without any NGO association. 'A tribute to cleanliness movement' In a post on X in Hindi, CM Yogi Adityanath said, "The mention by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in today's @mannkibaat about the team dedicated for years to the cleanliness of the Gomti river, the lifeline of Lucknow, is not only a tribute to the people's movement of ' Swachh Bharat ', but also a nationwide inspiration for the spirit of service, hard work and dedication that comes alive every Sunday on the riverbank." "Under the successful guidance of the Prime Minister, the excellent performance of the districts of Uttar Pradesh in the Swachh Survey is strengthening the achievement of 'Swachh Uttar Pradesh'. Heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister!" the CM said on X.
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
India ready to share AI models with Global South: S Krishnan
The Indian government is open to sharing its AI models with the Global South after achieving reasonable capacity and scale, a senior government official said on Friday. While speaking at FICCI's conference Bhashantara 2025, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said that the development of technology for languages to help people communicate in a frictionless manner can lead to huge value addition to the economy. He said that the UN Under-Secretary-General, during a visit to India, had appreciated India's AI-related works. 'We had a discussion and then he said your model appears interesting. At a stage when you have adequate capacity both in terms of compute and in terms of the kind of models that you have, will you be willing to share this with the Global South? This is something that we have declared that we are open to doing and something that we will do,' Krishnan said. The Global South term refers to developing and less-developed countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America regions. The government has launched the Bhashini project for the development of AI-based language translation technology. Krishnan said most people in the country would prefer to communicate through voice as opposed to in writing. 'I think voice-based communication has a critical role to play and that is where India can truly lead. The minute you say it is voice, then it means that you have to pick it up in the language that they are most comfortable with and what they would like to speak in. This is clearly the challenge that there are a number of researchers, a number of innovators and others who are addressing nationwide,' he said. 'With more than 6 billion people globally not speaking English as their primary language and India home to 19,500 languages and dialects, data emphasised the vast commercial opportunities that lay ahead,' he said. Data said that website names in local scripts will ease communication for the vernacular masses.
