JAMMU, July 24: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, three Service Chiefs, Gen VP Malik, who was Army chief at the time of Kargil war, other top Army Commanders and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra and Army Commander of Capt Vikram Batra’s unit are among hosts of VVIPs who will attend Kargil Vijay Diwas at Drass in the UT of Ladakh on July 26.
This will be a rare occasion when the Defence Minister, CDS and 3 Service chiefs including Army chief Gen Manoj Pande, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar will be present at Drass to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas.
They will be joined by LG Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, GOC Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Rashim Bali and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil Chairman- cum-CEC Feroz Khan.
Gen VP Malik, who was the Army chief at the time of Kargil war, and Commander of Capt Vikram Batra who attained martyrdom in Kargil while fighting Pakistani troops bravely are also likely to attend the Vijay Diwas celebrations.
Rajnath Singh will address the troops and interact with the Commanders. He will pay tribute to the martyrs.
Indian Army bravely fought Pakistani troops and invaders in the heights of Kargil for over two months from May to July in 1999 and forced all of them to retreat. Since then, July 26 is every year celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas by the Indian Army.
Over 500 Indian Army and Air Force bravehearts had attained martyrdom in over two month long war with Pakistan in the heights of Kargil. Casualties on Pakistan side were very high.
Next year, India will be celebrating silver jubilee of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Earlier, former President Ram Nath Kovind had also visited Drass to pay tribute to the Army soldiers.
