Jitendra Singh: 'Kargil Vijay Diwas symbolises national unity and valour'

"Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the fact that whenever India's borders and sovereignty have faced any challenge, the nation has stood united. The people of this country have repeatedly proven that they can face any situation and overcome it," Singh said.

"After Modi ji became the Prime Minister, several policy changes were implemented. The Armed Forces have been given additional freedom, and the defence budget has been increased. India has now become a defence exporter," Jitendra Singh added.

He was speaking on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the soldiers and laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial. The Prime Minister also initiated the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project virtually.

President Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to the soldiers and hailed the "courage and extraordinary valour" of the country's armed forces.

In a post on X, President Murmu urged all countrymen to "draw inspiration from the sacrifice and valour" of the soldiers. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is an occasion for a grateful nation to pay tribute to the indomitable courage and extraordinary valour of our armed forces. I pay tribute to each soldier who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Mother India on the peaks of Kargil in 1999 and bow in reverence to their sacred memory," the President mentioned in her post.

"I am confident that all countrymen will draw inspiration from their sacrifice and valour. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!" she added.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this conflict, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists. (ANI)