"Their Bravery Motivates Us Every Single Day": PM Remembers Kargil Heroes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in paying rich tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives defending India during the 1999 war in Kargil. The bravery of the soldiers motivates us every single day, PM Modi said as he remembered the brave sacrifices of the soldiers on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Twenty-two years ago on this day, the Indian soldiers pushed back Pakistani troops, a bulk of them drawn from the neighbouring country's Northern Light Infantry, from the captured peaks in Kargil.

The day is observed as ''Kargil Vijay Diwas'' to commemorate India's victory.

PM Modi also shared an excerpt from last year's Mann Ki Baat - a monthly radio programme addressed by him on the last Sunday of every month.

PM Modi's party, the BJP, shared a video of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who led the NDA government at the time of the war.

The Congress also honoured the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian Defence forces with a tweet.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted his "heartfelt tributes to every soldier who laid down his life for the dignity of our tricolour."

"We will always remember yours and your family''s supreme sacrifice for the security of the country. Jai Hind," the former Congress chief said.

President Ram Nath Kovind had to cancel his visit to Drass due to bad weather. The President instead visited the Baramulla War memorial in north Kashmir where he laid a wreath to pay homage to the martyrs, the officials said.

Earlier this morning, Army Chief General MM Naravane, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, and CISC Vice Admiral Atul Jain paid tribute at National War Memorial in Delhi.

On Sunday, Mr Rawat had visited the areas along the Line of Control in Dras sector of Kargil district to review the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness, an official statement said.