July 26, 2024 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi paid homage to the brave soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Prime Minister Modi also virtually inaugurated the Shinkun La Tunnel Project by carrying out the first blast. The project features a 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel at an altitude of approximately 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road, promising all-weather connectivity to Leh. Upon completion, this will be the highest tunnel in the world, facilitating the swift movement of armed forces and promoting economic and social development in Ladakh.
In New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid his respects to the fallen soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War at the National War Memorial. President Droupadi Murmu praised the "courage and extraordinary valour" of the armed forces and urged citizens to draw inspiration from the soldiers' sacrifices.
President Murmu shared on social media, “Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion for a grateful nation to pay tribute to the indomitable courage and extraordinary valour of our armed forces. I pay tribute to each soldier who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Mother India on the peaks of Kargil in the year 1999 and bow in reverence to their sacred memory. I am confident that all countrymen will draw inspiration from their sacrifice and valour. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also honored the soldiers, emphasizing their "unwavering commitment, valour, and patriotism" in a social media post. “Today, on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the indomitable spirit and courage of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly in the 1999 war. Their unwavering commitment, valour, and patriotism ensured that our country remained safe and secure. Their service and sacrifice will continue to inspire every Indian and our coming generations,” he wrote.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described Kargil Vijay Diwas as a symbol of the army's unwavering resolve and valour. “In the Kargil war, the brave soldiers displayed the ultimate valour in the inaccessible hills of the Himalayas and forced the enemy army to kneel down, and made the country proud by hoisting the tricolour again in Kargil,” he shared. “Today on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ I salute the brave soldiers who protected the motherland with their courage in this war. The nation will never forget your sacrifice, dedication, and sacrifice,” he added.
Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar also saluted the soldiers' bravery and dedication, stating that their legacy serves as a guiding light for all Indians.
As the nation celebrates the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the families of the soldiers remember their loved ones' bravery and dedication. Madhubala, widow of Kargil hero Vinod Kumar, expressed her pride, saying, "On May 18, 1997, we got married and on June 14, 1999, he lost his life. I feel very good to be here and feel proud."
Rajender Kumar, elder brother of soldier Bejender Kumar, stated, "I feel so proud; he died for the country. We remember him every day." Prashanti, wife of Group Captain K. Nachiketa Rao, shared her pride in her husband's bravery, recounting the nation's prayers for his safe return from captivity in Pakistan. "We feel proud as there are very few people who get such a chance to show such bravery and then get to come back and live to tell those tales," she said.
Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999, where Indian forces reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.
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