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Pakistan can neither fight a full-fledged nor a limited war with India and is waging a proxy war, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Friday on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil conflict.
He had earlier paid tribute at the National War Memorial in Delhi, as India celebrates 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' 20 years after it expelled Pakistani infiltrators from Kargil's high-altitude outposts.
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A short film with a voice over by Amitabh Bachchan, performances by Shillong Chamber Choir, songs by Mohit Chauhan, dances, drills and military bands will liven up Delhi's Indira Gandhi indoor stadium on July 27 on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Kargil war.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the event that will culminate series of programmes to commemorate the war.
In the specially made video, Amitabh Bachhan explains all the aspects of the war and India's response to push back Pakistan army intruders from mountain tops. It talks about Army's Operation Vijay, Indian Air Force (IAF) launching Operation Safed Sagar and the naval mobilization Operation Talwar in 1999 to corner Pakistan.
In a special tribute to heroes of the Kargil War, celebrated chef Sanjeev Kapoor and his team will prepare 'Tiranga kheer' at the 'badakhana' (grand dinner) to be organised in this battle zone on Thursday for the families of martyrs, serving troops and Army veterans.
'Mission Taste of Kargil' will serve dinner to 500 people, including the kith and kin of martyrs, veterans, serving troops, 'veer naaris' (widows of martyrs), gallantry awardees among others, ahead of the Kargil Vijay Divas on Friday.
"The initiative is a tribute to the bravehearts of Kargil war. We had been trying to reach out to the families of such bravehearts through food. My mission is to bring joy to the people in this battle zone," Kapoor told PTI.
President Ram Nath Kovind will join the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations on Friday in Drass town of the Kargil district.
According to official sources, the President, supreme commander of the armed forces, will arrive in Drass town on Friday to attend the 20th anniversary of the Kargil victory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared pictures from his visit to Kargil during the war in 1999, saying his interactions with the soldiers are still "unforgettable".
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday paid tribute at the National War Memorial in Delhi on the occasion of the 20th ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’.
Speaking on the occasion of the ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’, GL Batra, father of Captain Vikram Batra, who lost his life in the war and was posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, said, "The government is taking strong action against Pakistan as it continues to support infiltration and terrorism. I'd requested the government in Delhi to rename roads in the capital after Param Vir Chakra awardees, (but I am) yet to receive a response on it."
Meanwhile, NK Kalia, father of Captain Saurabh Kalia, who too lost his life in 1999, said on Friday, "The Indian government took action after the Uri and Pulwama attacks, and when IAF's (pilot) Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan. If similar actions were taken in 1999, our soldiers would not have been treated badly by Pakistan."
Speaking on the occasion of the 20th 'Kargil Vijay Diwas', Army Chief Bipin Rawat, when asked what message he would like to give to Pakistan, reportedly said, "Don't do it. Misadventures are normally not repeated. You'll get a bloodier nose next time."
Rawat also spoke about modernisation of the inventory for the forces during his address in Drass on Friday, 26 July.
Cricketer Virat Kohli and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh are among the many who remembered the bravery and courage of soldiers who fought the 1999 Kargil War.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday paid her tribute to soldiers who had laid down their lives during the Kargil War in 1999.
President Ram Nath Kovind paid his tribute to the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on Friday.
Earlier, bad weather had prevented the president from visiting the Drass War Memorial and he instead arrived in Srinagar.
Pakistan can neither fight a full-fledged nor a limited war with India and is waging a proxy war, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Friday on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil conflict.
Singh said the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers cannot be forgotten.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were present in the House.
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday promoted Vir Chakra awardee Satpal Singh to the post of assistant sub-inspector from senior constable in recognition of his action during the Kargil War. He is currently posted in Sangrur district.
Martyrdom is more valuable than a long life, Culture Minister Prahlad Patel said on Friday, 26 July, paying homage to soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War.
"Martyrdom is more valuable than a long life. Their memories live for eternity. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I offer not only my tributes but also my gratefulness to the brave soldiers," Patel said after inaugurating an exhibition on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil War at a function organised by the National Monuments Authority.
Aam Aadmi Party National Spokesperson Raghav Chadha on Friday took to Twitter to pay respect to the men and women in uniform. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a reminder of the gallantry showed (sic) by our armed forces and the ultimate sacrifice made by brave soldiers. Salute, respect and immense gratitude to the men and women in uniform," he wrote.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday remembered the martyrs who sacrificed their lives while protecting the country in the Kargil war 20 years ago.
Taking to Twitter, Gandhi saluted the bravehearts whose sacrifices, he said, have kept the country safe.
"On KargilVijayDiwas I pay tribute to our martyrs who laid down their lives protecting our nation, 20 years ago, in Kargil. I also salute our brave men and women in uniform whose innumerable sacrifices, dedication and valour keep our country safe," he tweeted.
The Congress party also congratulated the countrymen on 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' and paid respects to the soldiers who laid down their lives protecting the nation.
The Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Friday paid tribute to fallen soldiers on the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war by planting saplings.
A total of 527 soldiers lost their lives in the 1999 war with Pakistan and as many saplings were planted in the OTA campus to commemorate their sacrifices.
Lieutenant General Sanjeev Kanal and Major General A Arun, along with other officers, cadets and staff of the OTA, participated in the plantation drive supported by an NGO, news agency PTI reported, citing a statement.
The 20th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil War was celebrated at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
Air Vice Marshal B Chandra Sekhar, senior officer in-charge, Administration, Southern Air Command, Brigadier CG Arun, Station Commander, Pangode Military Station, and representatives of all the three services laid a wreath and paid homage at the war memorial.
Kargil Vijay Diwas was commemorated in Jammu by paying rich tributes to martyrs at a wreath-laying ceremony at the 'Balidan Stambh' in Jammu, news agency PTI reported on Friday, quoting a Defence PRO.
Brig TK Chopra, Deputy General Officer Commanding, Tiger Division, laid a wreath at the eternal flame of the war memorial.
Veer Naris (wives of soldiers killed on the line of duty), kith and kin of fallen soldiers, Gallantry Awardees of the Kargil war, senior Army officers, Army veterans and civilian dignitaries also paid homage to the Kargil heroes, he said.
A guard of honour was also presented for the wreath-laying ceremony.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, 26 July, that the Union government will write to parents of Kargil War martyrs and serving soldiers to pay tributes to their valour.
Speaking at a ceremony at the BJP headquarters to observe the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas', Singh said the government will explain in these letters how these brave soldiers serving in adverse circumstances at borders made the country safe and proud with their sacrifices and valour.
He also noted that it was the Narendra Modi government which implemented the 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme for ex-servicemen and allocated over Rs 30,000 crore for this, according to a BJP statement.
BJP working president J P Nadda said at the ceremony that the country is safe under Modi's leadership.
The country will always be indebted to soldiers who repulsed Pakistani forces and foiled the enemy's design during the 1999 Kargil War, he said