Spending Dussehra festival with the troops at Siachen and other forward locations in the Ladakh region, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday conveyed to them the government's commitment to support them in all circumstances.
During the visit, she also reviewed the security situation in the border region.
Sitharaman, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir told the soldiers that the government is committed to spending time with the jawans and do whatever is possible for them.
She also recalled to them the prime minister's visit to Siachen in 2014 when he spent time with soldiers on Diwali and said the goverment wanted to understand the conditions in which the jawans live.
"Jawans from different states, which have varied weather conditions, come and serve the nation in such high-altitudes and it is laudable. I assure you that the government is with you all the time and in all circumstances. We are not only sensitive to your needs and demands but also to those of your families," Sitharaman said addressing the troops.
She was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D Anbu and GoC 14 Corps Lt Gen S K Upadhyay.
The defence minister also inaugurated Pratham-Shyok bridge, first major construction on the Shyok Gong river, which will link Leh to Karakoram, providing connectivity on the strategically important Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Olde axis for military transport.
She said it is nothing short of a miracle to construct roads and bridges in such a rough terrain and in such trying circumstances where even breathing is difficult and lauded the BRO and its men for working in difficult terrains and hostile conditions. She said that constructing roads and bridges in difficult terrains will help in development and progress of the nation and its people.
WHAT DEF MIN SAID
- Jawans from different states, which have varied weather conditions, come and serve the nation in such high-altitudes and it is laudable. I assure you that the government is with you all the time and in all circumstances. We are sensitive to demands of your families as well
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 "Nirmala Sitharaman")
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