On the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Kargil to honor the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Arriving at the Kargil War Memorial on Friday morning, PM Modi paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War. His visit, marked by tight security arrangements, highlights the nation’s enduring respect and gratitude for these heroes.
In his address at the Kargil Vijay Diwas Shradhanjali Samaroh in Dras, Ladakh, PM Modi emphasized the immortal nature of the sacrifices made by the soldiers. ‘Today, this great land of Ladakh is witnessing the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Kargil Vijay Diwas tells us that the sacrifices made for the nation are immortal,’Modi stated. He praised the courage and valor of the Indian armed forces and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty.
The Prime Minister also used the occasion to virtually initiate the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project. This ambitious infrastructure endeavor involves the construction of a 4.1 km long twin-tube tunnel at an altitude of approximately 15,800 feet along the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road. Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world, ensuring all-weather connectivity to Leh and bolstering military logistics and regional development.
Highlighting the progress in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Modi said, ‘Be it Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir, India will defeat every challenge that comes in the way of development. In a few days, on August 5, it will be 5 years since Article 370 was abolished. Jammu and Kashmir is talking about a new future, talking about big dreams. Along with infrastructure development, the tourism sector is also growing rapidly in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. After decades, a cinema hall has opened in Kashmir. After three and a half decades, the Tazia procession has been taken out in Srinagar for the first time. Our heaven on earth is rapidly moving towards peace and harmony.’
During his speech, PM Modi addressed ongoing regional tensions, stating, ‘Pakistan has failed in all its nefarious attempts in the past. But Pakistan has not learned anything from its history. It is trying to keep itself relevant with the help of terrorism and proxy war. Our soldiers will crush terrorism with full force and the enemy will be given a befitting reply.’
In a pointed critique of the Opposition, PM Modi addressed concerns over recent military reforms. He said, ‘The goal of Agneepath is to make the army young and continuously fit for war. Unfortunately, some people have politicized this sensitive issue related to national security. These are the same people who wanted to scrap the Tejas fighter plane and have weakened our army with scams worth thousands of crores.’ Modi emphasized that the opposition’s attempts to undermine military modernization and reforms are counterproductive.
On the Agnipath scheme, PM Modi further clarified, ‘I don’t know what has happened to the thinking of some people. They are spreading the misconception that the government has come up with this scheme to save pension money… For today’s recruits, the question of pension will arise after 30 years… We have respected this decision taken by the Army because we work for ‘rashtraneeti’, not ‘rajneeti’.’
The event was attended by prominent leaders including President Droupadi Murmu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also offered tributes to the fallen soldiers. The day’s observances highlight both the remembrance of past sacrifices and the ongoing commitment to national security and development.
