Vijay Diwas: Twitterati pay tributes to 1971 War Martyrs

NEW DELHI: The nation is celebrating Vijay Diwas on Monday to commemorate India’s victory in the 1971 war. The Indian Armed Forces achieved a decisive victory over the Pakistan Army on December 16, 1971.

“On Vijay Diwas, I pay tribute to the courage, valour, and bravery of Indian soldiers. The history that our troops created on this day will remain embossed in golden letters,” PM Modi tweeted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, too, remembered the “indomitable courage” of the Indian Army when it brought the Pakistani forces on its knees, in 1971, that paved the way for the creation of Bangladesh.

“On the occasion of Vijay Diwas today the nation salutes the indomitable courage and valour of India’s armed forces. We are proud of our Armed Forces who have defended our country in every situation. We will never forget their sacrifice and service,” he tweeted.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also paid homage to the martyrs and tweeted, “I join the nation in saluting the soldiers of the country on Vijay Diwas. We bow down to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the war of 1971.”

A netizen wrote, “On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, remembering the courage of our soldiers and sacrifice made by the martyrs in Indo-Pak war 1971. Bharat Mata ki Jai.”

The 13-day war ended with the surrender of at least 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, bringing to an end the bitterly fought war on the eastern and western fronts. The war resulted in the subsequent secession of East Pakistan which emerged as the new nation of Bangladesh.

The Army on Monday celebrated Vijay Diwas in Kashmir by felicitating the widows and families of martyrs of the 1971 war. The ceremony was held at Army 15 Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. The celebration began with a wreath-laying at the war memorial in the cantonment by Lt. General K.J.S. Dhillon. Senior officers and jawans also paid homage to the fallen soldiers of the war that saw the birth of Bangladesh. The corps commander then felicitated the families of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country. “2019 is a year dedicated to the families of the next of kin of the fallen soldiers,” Dhillon said. “I want to pay my homage to the families of the soldiers who died in the 1971 war.”

Among those felicitated was Khatija, widow of fallen soldier Ghulam Mohammad Dar.

She said the Army has been supporting her all along. “My son is jobless, I am hopeful that the army will help him find a job,” she said. Bashir Ahmad Khan from Kupwara, whose father, Mohamamd Sultan Khan Naib Subedar died in the Kargil sector during the war, said it is a moment of great pride. “Our father served the country, I am feeling very proud of my father’s sacrifice today,” Ahmad said. (IANS)

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