PM Modi Honors Kargil Heroes

 Criticizes Past Governments

Drass: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized on Friday that the Kargil War victory is a triumph not of any government or political group, but of the 1.40 crore people of India. Speaking at the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Kargil War victory, he paid homage to the soldiers who valiantly defended the nation in 1999, ensuring India’s pride by defeating the enemy in the Kargil heights.

During his address, PM Modi criticized previous governments for neglecting the need for war memorials to honor the country’s brave soldiers. “For 70 years, those in power avoided the demand for constructing war memorials on one pretext or another. They even neglect to participate in Kargil War victory celebrations today. I have the privilege of joining the silver jubilee celebrations of Kargil victory because the people elected me for the third term. Had they come to power, they would not be here today,” Modi stated.

PM Modi highlighted the contrast between his administration’s approach and that of previous governments regarding the armed forces. He remarked, “For the previous governments, the defense forces were merely for parades and salutes. For us, they are the sentinels of our borders, guaranteeing peace, security of the people, and the integrity of the country.”

He also addressed alleged corruption in defense deals by previous administrations. “They did not want our defense forces to have the latest fighter planes. They oppose the Agnipath Scheme, which aims to keep our soldiers young and fit for war. They claim the Agniveer Scheme is to save on pensions. They forget that a soldier recruited today will be eligible for a pension after 30 years, by which time I would be 105. They want people to believe that Modi is foolish enough to tamper with the country’s defense forces for a benefit that would only be realized when I’m 105,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted the lack of bulletproof jackets for the defense forces under past governments. “Over the last 10 years, we have strived to make the defense forces self-reliant. Our defense forces are now not only equipped with the latest arms and ammunition but are also producers of modern defense equipment. Today, our defense allocation is over Rs 1.25 lakh crore,” Modi asserted.

PM Modi also spoke about the development and progress in the Ladakh region. He initiated the first blast for the construction of the 1.4 km long Shinkun La tunnel, which will connect the Zanskar region of Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh, providing an all-weather alternative highway. He noted that the budget allocation for Ladakh has increased from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 6,000 crore.

By celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War victory, PM Modi not only honored the soldiers’ sacrifices but also drew attention to the ongoing efforts to bolster India’s defense capabilities and regional development. His speech highlighted the importance of recognizing the contributions of the armed forces and the need for continued support and modernization to ensure the country’s security and integrity.

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