PM pays tribute to Kargil martyrs

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Sunday led the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs
on the 10th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil conflict,
the first time that the UPA political leadership has joined
such celebration.

"I join the entire nation in paying homage to the
martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in
defence of Indian unity and integrity," the Prime Minister
wrote in the visitor's book at Amar Jawan Jyoti here.

"The best tribute we can pay to the gallant officers
and jawans is to dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of
nation building and work steadfastly to protect the unity and
integrity of our nation," he added.

At the time of the Kargil conflict, the Congress had
attacked the BJP-led government on lapses that led to the
incursions by the Pakistani regulars who had to be evicted
from 13 mountain peaks after a nearly two month-long war.

The Congress has always downplayed the events to
commemorate the end of the conflict and this is for the first
time that the Prime Minister of the UPA coalition attended the
function.

Singh was accompanied by Defence Minister A K Antony,
Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Army Vice Chief Lieutenant
General Noble Thamburaj and Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal P
K Barbora.

Soon after the ceremony, the Prime Minister left for
Vishakhapatnam where he will be launching the indigenously
developed nuclear submarine INS Arihant for sea trials.

As many as 533 jawans and officers had sacrificed
their lives while re-capturing 13 hill points from Pakistani
troops after they had sneaked into Indian posts and occupied
the heights in 1999.

Joining the war, the Indian Air Force had launched its
Operation 'Safed Sagar' to evict the enemy troops sitting on
the peak. It had lost two MiG 27s and one Mi-17 helicopter in
the battle.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Operation Vijay,
the Army is holding a series of events in the Kargil-Drass
sector, which are being attended by the officers who took part
in the war, gallantry award winners and their families and
senior Army officials.

"Army and Air Force personnel will be heli-dropped on
the recaptured peaks, which will be lighted during the night
and photo exhibition, beating retreat and felicitation of war
awardees will be the highlights of the programme," Army
officials said. PTI AJD
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