Kargil heroes’ valour unparalleled in history: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the courage displayed by Indian soldiers during the Kargil War under extremely adverse conditions is unparalleled in the history of warfare.

A society which forgets its brave has a present but no future, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said as he hailed the sacrifice of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil War.

Speaking at the Kargil Vijay Diwas event here, Fadnavis said it was one of the important wars of the country, in which Indian forces displayed incomparable valour.

Despite the enemy occupying strategic high-altitude positions, the Indian armed forces displayed exceptional coordination and bravery, recapturing every post and securing a historic victory for India, Fadnavis said.

The courage shown by Indian soldiers in the face of heavy gunfire, bombing and extremely difficult terrain remains unmatched, he asserted.

“When enemies were at a height, the outposts were captured back. Very young officials, be it Captain Saurabh Kalia, Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, laid down their lives in the war. There were many who were not even 25 but fought valiantly. History will never forget them,” Fadnavis said.

“A society which forgets its brave has a present but no future,” he said.

He said Indian soldiers do not fight for money, but for the dignity and honour of the motherland.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that the families of martyrs feel the entire nation stands with them, Fadnavis said.

The CM said after assuming office in 2014, his Government decided to substantially enhance financial assistance for the families of martyred soldiers.

Assistance, which had initially stood at Rs 3,00,000, was increased in phases, and from 2017 onwards the Government implemented the decision to provide Rs 1 crore to the family of every soldier from Maharashtra who is martyred in the line of duty, he said.

While no amount of money can compensate for such sacrifice, Fadnavis stressed that the State Government would always stand by these families.

He said India is no more just a weapon-importing country but can export them.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said the Indian Armed Forces demonstrated the country’s strategic strength by destroying terrorist camps and enemy military installations.

Highlighting India’s strides towards self-reliance in defence, Fadnavis said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has transformed from being merely an importer of defence equipment into a capable nation manufacturing and exporting advanced weaponry.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma said Kargil Vijay Diwas is not merely a commemoration of a military victory, but a symbol of the indomitable courage, sacrifice, discipline and patriotism of Indian soldiers.

The governor said Indian soldiers displayed extraordinary valour in the rugged mountains of Kargil despite adverse weather conditions and relentless enemy fire, ensuring the nation’s territorial integrity remained intact.

India’s borders are safeguarded not merely by weapons, but by the unmatched courage, discipline and patriotism of its soldiers, Varma added.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Kargil Vijay Diwas is not merely a celebration of victory in war but a symbol of the courage, sacrifice, dedication and patriotism of Indian soldiers.

He stated that 1.4 billion Indians can never repay the debt owed to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation.

The sacrifices made by their mothers and widows represent the true pride of the country, Shinde added.

Shinde said although 25 years have passed since the Kargil victory, it was achieved through the supreme sacrifice of brave soldiers.

Therefore, the day is both a celebration of victory and an emotional reminder of the nation’s martyrs, he added.

He also said the Maharashtra Government has sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the installation of a light-and-sound show at the Kargil War Memorial to ensure the story of the war reaches future generations. Work on the project is underway, Shinde added.

Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar said the courage and sacrifice of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil War continue to inspire every Indian.

Honouring brave soldiers, widows of martyrs, mothers of martyrs and disabled soldiers is an expression of the nation’s gratitude, she said.