Prime minster Manmohan Singh pays tribute to Kargil martyrs

The sound of the last post in memory of Kargil heroes today reverberated from the capital to the erstwhile battlezones of Ladkah, where families of many of the slain soldiers gathered for the first time in 10 years, as prime minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying victory day tributes, also a first for a UPA government.

"After the demise of my son it is the only happy day of my life. I am thankful that my son is finally recognised and remembered," said SP Kalia, father of Lt Saurabh Kalia who was among the first casualties of the Kargil conflict and was captured and brutally tortured by the Pakistani forces.

Kalia is in Drass and so are teary eyed but proud family members of hundreds of slain soldier who had an emotional reunion of sorts as they gathered from all over the country at the invitation of the armed forces to attend the 10th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

While wreaths were laid at the War Memorial amid a majestic flypast by Mig 21 Bison aicraft and showering of petals by Chetak heliocopters, the relatives got an account of the bravey of their loved ones from the personnel of the forces, colleagues and friends.

In New Delhi, a contingent of tri-services guards presented the salute and buglers sounded the last post as Singh laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. A two-minute silence was observed for those killed in the 60-day war.

"I join the entire nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their lives in defence of Indian unity and integrity," the PM wrote in the visitor's book. It is the first time that the prime minister of UPA coalition attended a function commemorating victory in the Kargil war founght under the then NDA government.

"The best tribute we can pay to the gallant officers and jawans is to dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of nation building and work steadfastly to protect the unity and integrity of our nation," the prime minsiter said.

GL Batra, father of Caption Vikram Batra, along with Mohini Panday, mother of Param Vir Chakra winner Captain Manoj Panday, were honoured at a function here along with other family members of award winning soldiers, who laid down their lives during the war, and also the surviving awardees.

As he still struggles to come to terms with his loss, banker Vishal Batra, has decided to join the Territorial Army as a tribute to his twin sibling Vikram.

Vikram, 24, had laid down his life while recapturing the strategic 5140-point in the Tiger hill stretch from the Pakistani troops during the Kargil war in 1999.

"I want to enter the armed forces through Territorial Army (TA). This would be my way of paying tribute to my brother," Vishal, who works with the ICICI, said.

"I am proud of my son. He is national hero. He brought us pride and honour. I feel his absence," GL Batra said.

On July 26, 1999 the Indian armed forces broke the back of a Pakistani misadventure in the forbidden heights of Batalik, Kargil and Drass sectors.

Recalling the war, former chief of staff VP Malik, who had led the forces, asked the troops and the country to remain "proactive because you cannot believe Pakistan and because you need to show you posture." 

"We can do it," that was the expression on the faces of the soldiers whenever he visited them, Malik said.

In the war, 610 officers and men, including five Air Force personnel and two civilians, laid down their lives.

Major Sachin (18 Grenadiers) who was visiting the place for the first time after the war, said that it has given an opportunity to relive his memories.

He said his battalion was tasked with an important objective of recapturing Tiger Hill and was happy that it was able to capture it. The Major said that at the same time, he felt sad that a number of his comrades, including some of his good friends, lost their lives.

Air Vice Marshal J Chauhan recalled the role of the Air Force, saying there was a requirement of carrying out a reconnaissance of the hostile locations in close conjunction with the army so that brave soldiers could go and occupy them.

Pointing out that the terrain was tough and that they had to operate from 30,000 feet, Chauhan said no Air Force in the world has done this.

He said they had to work on the ways and means of how to achieve those impossible targets as they were not allowed to cross the LoC and carrying out attacks was really difficult.