The leaders and workers of Uttarakhand Congress paid homage to the martyrs of the 1971 war between India and Pakistan on Saturday. Addressing a programme organised at the Congress Bhawan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said that December 16 is a golden letter day in the history of India. He said that the Indian soldiers not only secured victory in this war which was foisted on the country by the neighbouring country but also gave a message to the world that they are ready to defend the country under any circumstances. He said that the Indian army has always given a fitting reply to the enemy.

Mahara said that the brave soldiers of Uttarakhand have always shown exemplary bravery in defending the country and the war of 1971 many brave hearts of the State gave their contribution. He said that there is rarely any house in Uttarakhand which remained unaffected by the sacrifice done by the soldiers for the nation.

 The PCC president said that on this day in 1971, the Indian army during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forced the Pakistani general AA Khan Niyaji to surrender with his 93,000 troops in East Pakistan.

 He added that Pakistan paid the price for one misadventure in the form of creation of a new nation, Bangladesh.

 The vice president (organisation) Mathura Dutt Joshi, general secretary Navin Joshi, State president of Mahila Congress Jyoti Rautela, chief spokesperson Garima Dasauni  and others attended the programme.