STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former Legislator and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vikram Randhawa along with large number of people paid tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil war on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas at Dharap Panchayat in Jammu South RS Pura Assembly segment. “Operation Vijay was a difficult and high-intensity military operation. It was a difficult terrain that was under the possession of the enemy. It was a challenge that our soldiers accomplished. I also want to commend the Air warriors for their contribution in achieving the final objective,” Randhawa said. “The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999”, Randhawa said, adding that the war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India’s victory over Pakistan, Randhawa added.
Randhawa noted that the country will never forget the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war.
“Whenever there has been a war situation, our public has always supported the forces but that support has been indirect. I urge the public to be ready and mentally prepared to support the soldiers directly on the battlefield if the need arises,” he added. Many of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil war were newly married, about to get married or were the sole breadwinners of their families. But they did not think about their lives and put them on the line, he said, adding that, “I salute our brave sons who put the country first and sacrificed their lives. Their sacrifices have not gone waste, their contribution will continue to inspire generations”. Randhawa also called upon the Army to work towards ensuring that the contribution of these unsung heroes does not go unnoticed. He said that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism, which will not be good for them, adding that Pakistan failed to handle the recent crisis in its country and still trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in India. “Rather than sponsoring terrorism, Pakistan should first keep its people happy, who were seen fighting for food and other items in the recent past”, Randhawa said and asked the Pakistan in bold voice to stop disturbing peaceful atmosphere in India otherwise India will not remain silent and take extreme steps against them. “Pakistan is not only sponsoring terrorism, but also narcotics, which is spoiling the future of our younger generation”, Randhawa said, adding that security forces almost on daily basis seize narcotics along the borders sent by the Pakistan through drones or by their agents. Mandal President and Ex-Sarpanch Vijay Sharma, Pushkar Sharma, Inder Khajuria, Madan Lal, Ashwani Kumar Naib Sarpanch, Swarn Singh Panch, Rajinder Kumar Lambardar, Sonu Singh, Surinder Singh and many others were present.