Tanned by the month-long cycle rally, he arrived at Lal Mahal at 2.20 pm and garlanded the statue of Jijabai.
From Delhi’s India Gate to Pune’s Lal Mahal, it was an emotional journey for K Unnikrishnan, father of the National Security Guard (NSG) commando, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died fighting terrorists at the Taj Hotel during the 26/11 Mumbai
terror attacks in 2008.
“Sandeep always said we should keep working in the national interest and I’m happy that I’m doing my bit,” said K Unnikrishnan on Friday.
On his way to Mumbai on a bicycle to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack on November 26, he arrived in the city on Friday. Tanned by the month-long cycle rally, he arrived at Lal Mahal at 2.20 pm and garlanded the statue of Jijabai.
The 62-year-old started his journey from India Gate in Delhi on October 26 with an aim to cycle across the country to remind the country of soldiers’ sacrifice. Talking to reporters here, he said it’s a great feeling to personally go and meet families of martyrs.
“We are overwhelmed by the love that we got from people. We met hundreds of people who cried with us for the martyrs. It’s a great sense of relief to cry together with people who can feel your pain.
There are many families who have lost their sons to the cause of the country. Sharing grief with them made us feel light and encouraged us to go on with our mission,” said Unnikrishnan.
Sharing his experiences, he said the meeting with an elderly soldier during the journey was one of the memorable incidents. “I was embarrassed when the soldier touched my feet. When I tried to stop him he said, ‘I served for 40 years in defence but your son who served for a short while did a much greater job.’ We were
really moved,” stated Unnikrishnan.
Accompanied by cyclist Hiralal Yadav, with their wives following them in a vehicle, Unnikrishnan will visit the National Defence Academy during his stay in Pune and will reach Mumbai on November 26. They will be residing at the Taj Hotel on November 26 and 27.
His wife said, “Last year we stayed at this hotel. My husband had suggested the idea of taking up the cycle rally earlier, but I disagreed. When he said the campaign will remind the people about the sacrifice made by our brave soldiers, I supported him.”
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