Tag: SOLDIERS

Categories
-Top News Defence India News

Ops intensified in Anantnag after 2 soldiers killed in action

Anantnag, Aug 11 (ANI): Security personnel stand guard near the encounter site at Kulgam in Anantnag on Sunday. Reportedly, 2 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives in an encounter with terrorists. (ANI Photo)

Officials said additional personnel have been rushed to the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area to eliminate terrorists — believed to be three to four in number…reports Asian Lite News

Security forces on Sunday intensified their operation to flush out terrorists from the forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on the second day of an encounter that has left two soldiers and a civilian dead.

Officials said additional personnel have been rushed to the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area to eliminate terrorists — believed to be three to four in number.

“The operation is going in the upper reaches of Gagarmandu. An intensive search operation is going on… Further details will be shared after the operation is over,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi told reporters near the encounter site in Kokernag.

He said three soldiers were injured in the initial exchange of fire on Saturday while two civilians also sustained injuries.

“Two security personnel attained martyrdom while the third is undergoing treatment and his condition is said to be stable. Out of two civilians who were injured, one has succumbed,” Birdi said.

Asked if the two civilians were involved in terrorist activities, Birdi said the presence of the two men close to the site of encounter with terrorists is a matter of investigation and it “is being investigated”.

Asked if the group of terrorists involved in the ongoing encounter had come from Doda, the IGP said while the scene of gunbattle is close the border of district, it is premature to say anything with certainty.

Earlier in the day, officials said the death count in the overnight anti-terrorist operation rose to three as one of the two civilians injured in the encounter succumbed.

The operation to hunt down the ultras continued despite the challenging topography — the Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area of the Anantnag district is at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

The firefight started last evening during a cordon and search operation that was initiated by the security forces based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of terrorists in the remote belt.

According to the officials, a group of terrorists opened fire at the joint search parties comprising Army personnel, including para commandos, and local police.

In the ensuing gun battle, six Army personnel and two civilians were injured, officials said, adding the injured soldiers were promptly taken to a nearby hospital where two succumbed shortly after arrival.

The army personnel killed in action are Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma.

This encounter is a grim reminder of a similar operation in the general area of Kokernag last September, during which four security personnel, including Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish and Deputy SP Humayun Bhat were killed in the week-long engagement with terrorists.

Two terrorists, including a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were also neutralised during that operation.

Security forces have ramped up their efforts in the woods of Kokernag after an encounter in the Doda district on July 15 that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, including a captain.

It is believed that the terrorists involved in the recent Anantnag incident may have crossed over from Kishtwar district after escaping the confrontation in Doda.

Giving details of the current operation, a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said that on August 5, it was confirmed through human and electronic means that terrorists responsible for atrocities in the Doda region in July have sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran-Garol area in south Kashmir.

“The Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have relentlessly tracked these terrorists and precise operations were launched on the night of August 9 and 10 in the mountains in the east of Kapran where these terrorists were reportedly holed up,” the spokesperson said.

Suspicious movement was observed around 2 pm on August 10, he said, adding and when security forces challenged them the terrorists responded by indiscriminate, desperate and reckless firing in which two Army personnel and two civilians in the vicinity were injured,” He said the terror antecedents of the injured civilians are being ascertained.

“The area is at an altitude of above 10,000 feet, has thick undergrowth, large boulders, nallahs and re-entrants that pose a serious challenge to operations. Security forces are moving deliberately and are in the process of hunting down the terrorists,” the spokesperson said.

ALSO READ-PDP holds protest against EC for deferring Anantnag-Rajouri poll  

Categories
-Top News UK News

Javid calls for memorial for Muslim soldiers

Sir Sajid told the BBC: “The National Memorial Arboretum holds a special place in national life and already does so much to commemorate different communities who bravely served…reports Asian Lite News

The government should build a memorial to Muslim soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars, former Chancellor Sir Sajid Javid told the BBC.

He said a memorial should be erected at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to “help honour the fallen and educate future generations” about the 140,000 Muslims who “made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.”

He urged current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to consider the project. Hunt said Treasury officials would “be happy to engage with him to identify how best the government can help make this vision a reality.”

The campaign for a Muslim war memorial was first launched in 2015 in a bid to mark the centenary of the First World War. The World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust aimed to raise £1 million ($1.26 million) for the project.

Permission for it was provisionally granted by the National Memorial Arboretum Landscapes and Memorials Committee last year.

The arboretum’s lead, Mark Ellis, told the BBC: “We wish them the very best in their fundraising efforts and look forward to this fitting tribute to the service and sacrifice of Muslim service personnel being installed and dedicated in the future.”

Sir Sajid told the BBC: “The National Memorial Arboretum holds a special place in national life and already does so much to commemorate different communities who bravely served.

“Muslim service also deserves recognition. A new powerful symbol … will help honour the fallen and educate future generations.” He added: “I hope the chancellor will help make this vision a reality at the Spring Budget.”

A spokesperson for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which cares for the graves, memorials and records of fallen servicemen and women, said: “We regularly collaborate with religion and worldview communities to remember the diverse faiths, beliefs and worldviews held by of all those who gave their lives in the conflicts of the First and Second World Wars.”

ALSO READ-Javid’s NHS vision to focus on Digital Health and Care Plan

Categories
-Top News Europe UK News

Ukraine claims nearly 200 Russian soldiers killed in a day

Ukraine soldiers Pic credits Twitter @DefenceU

In its latest update, the General Staff said the Russians also carried out 25 air strikes on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News

The Ukrainian military has claimed that nearly 200 Russian soldiers were killed and a variety of equipment had also been destroyed in the past one day.

Although the claim was not officially verified, the military went on to say that in the last 48 hours, the frontlines across the war-torn nation witnessed heavy combat, with more than 20 engagements occurring in areas in the Donetsk region — chiefly Lyman, Marinka and Bakhmut, CNN reported.

In its latest update, the General Staff said the Russians also carried out 25 air strikes on Sunday.

There had been heavy Russian artillery and mortar fire in the Kupyansk area of Kharkiv, where the Russians have been trying to break through for over a month, the military added.

The General Staff insisted all Russian efforts to take territory had been foiled.

Across the Donetsk frontlines, the fighting was characterised by exchanges of indirect fire, but with little movement.

However, the Ukrainians say they are on the front foot around Bakhmut.

“(Troops) hold the initiative, continue assault operations and push the enemy back. Over the last day, the Ukrainian forces advanced 600 to 1,000 meters on the southern and northern flanks around Bakhmut,” CNN quoted Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Armed Forces, as saying. 

In the south, where Ukrainian forces have attempted to break through Russian lines, the General Staff said a Russian effort to regain lost positions in the area of Novodarivka had also failed.

Russian artillery continued to strike about 30 settlements along the frontlines in the Zaporizhzhia region, it added.

In Kherson, Nataliya Humenyuk, a spokesperson for Ukrainian forces in the south, said the Russians struggled to regain positions on the east bank of the river Dnipro, which was flooded by the June 6 damage to the dam at Nova Kakhovka. 

ALSO READ-Wagner mercenaries leaves Russia’s Lipetsk region

Categories
-Top News UK News

British soldiers lead joint desert training exercise with Oman

It is the British Army’s foremost annual training and defence engagement event to take place across the Gulf region, involving up to 1,000 British and 100 Omani soldiers…reports Asian Lite News

British troops have been honing their desert war-fighting skills on a training area six times the size of Salisbury Plain over the last two weeks (3-14 February). They were taking part in Exercise Khanjar Oman, the first main training exercise of their four-month deployment to Oman.

The combined exercise saw soldiers operate alongside the Royal Army of Oman on the Ras Madrakah joint training area, as they built towards a mock assault on an enemy urban area. The exercise tested troops’ ability to train and operate in arduous terrain, including desert plains, complex wadi systems and mountains.

At the same time, it provided an opportunity to perfect key soldiering skills, including soldiering in austere environments, working with partner forces and learning battle-winning tactics to protect the British public from future threats.

Battlegroup Commander Lt Col Ben Hawes 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, is preparing his troops to assume command of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in January 2024. He said:

Since March last year, the focus of our training has been to ensure that we are ready to fight against a peer enemy force. This exercise is the UK ensuring that its spearhead battlegroup is in exactly the right place to go out the door.

“My troops have been absolutely put through their paces. Everything that our peer enemies could do to us, has been done to us. I’ve operated with every single one of my radio frequencies jammed, I’ve operated with no GPS, I’ve operated at night for long periods of time; we’ve done training serial after training serial. This is about our ability to operate and sustain an operation against an enemy that has the same, or maybe even greater capabilities than we do. More than half the soldiers participating in the exercise were drawn from 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment. Smaller numbers were drawn from The Royal Logistics Corps, The Royal Engineers, The Royal Artillery, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment and the Coastal Security Force.”

The 4th Light Brigade Combat Team is delivering the first series of exercises for Exercise Desert Khanjar, which describes the two annual, four-month deployments of UK troops to the British Army’s Land Regional Hub in Duqm, Oman.

It is the British Army’s foremost annual training and defence engagement event to take place across the Gulf region, involving up to 1,000 British and 100 Omani soldiers.

During deployment, British personnel undertake unit training, exercise with partners and provide a forward-based force capable of building regional security capabilities and responding to threats where they arise.

ALSO READ-Brexit deal is Sunak’s biggest political test 

Categories
-Top News India News

Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in Kargil

PM arrives at Kargil to cerebrates Deepavali with brave solider on October 24, 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Kargil on Monday to celebrate the festival of light with soldiers said Diwali means the “festival of end of terror” and that Kargil had made it possible.

Addressing soldiers Prime Minister said, “For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil.”

“The forces are the pillar of India’s security. From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. The meaning of Diwali is end of Atank (terror) and Kargil made it possible,” he said.

“In Kargil, our forces crushed terror. I was fortunate enough to be a witness. I was shown my old photos here, and I am grateful for that,” he added.

The Prime Minister has been celebrating the festival with soldiers for several years now.

In 2019, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with soldiers in the Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He had called soldiers as his family and lauded them for guarding the borders even during festivals. He had exchanged Diwali greetings with the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at Pathankot Air Force Station.

In 2018, Prime Minister Modi had celebrated Diwali with jawans of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at Harsil in Uttarakhand. Following that he had offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine. In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated the festival of light with army soldiers and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora District.

PM arrives at Kargil to cerebrates Deepavali with brave solider on October 24, 2022.

In 2016, the PM went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the festival with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at an outpost.

He visited the Punjab border to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in 2015. In 2014, Prime Minister Modi spent Diwali in Siachen with soldiers.

Notably, PM Modi has been visiting soldiers on Diwali, ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Diwali will be public school holiday in New York from next year

Categories
-Top News Europe

50,000 Russian soldiers to participate in military drill

Soldiers deployed abroad have reportedly already arrived at a training area, including from Belarus, China and India…reports Asian Lite News

More than 50,000 soldiers will take part in a large-scale Russian military manoeuvre this week, the Defence Ministry said in Moscow on Monday.

The exercise, dubbed “Vostok 2022”, will include the deployment of 5,000 weapons and pieces of military equipment, as well as 140 aircraft and 60 warships and other vessels, dpa news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

The manoeuvre, which will begin on Thursday and end on September 7, is to take place on military training grounds in eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East, as well as in the Sea of Japan.

Soldiers deployed abroad have reportedly already arrived at a training area, including from Belarus, China and India.

The exercise, which takes place some six months into Russia’s war in Ukraine, is about ensuring the military security of Moscow and its allies, the Ministry said.

ALSO READ-India to import more oil from Russia

Categories
-Top News

Great War soldiers’ graves rededicated in France

The headstones over their graves will now be replaced by the CWGC, who will care for their final resting places in perpetuity…reports Asian Lite News

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the graves of Rifleman (Rfn) Albert George Sleet, Lieutenant (Lt) Wilfrid Ashton Piercy and Serjeant (Sjt) James Gration DCM, who died during the Great War whilst serving with battalions of The London Regiment, were rededicated after more than a hundred years.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Arras Road Cemetery, Dud Corner Cemetery and Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension respectively, all in the Pas-de-Calais region of France.

The graves of all three men were identified after researchers submitted evidence suggesting that their graves had been located. After further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and MOD JCCC, it was confirmed as part of MOD JCCC’s adjudication that these men had in fact been found.

Rosie Barron, from MOD JCCC, said, “It has been a privilege to work with The London Regiment to organise these rededication services and to meet the families of these men. Rfn Sleet, Lt Piercy and Sjt Gration all paid the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of our freedom and it is vital that their sacrifice is not forgotten.”

Rfn Sleet was killed in at Hulluch, north of Loos-en-Gohelle, on 15 October 1915 aged 30. He was commemorated on the Loos Memorial which surrounds Dud Corner Cemetery. His family who attended the rededication service, had previously visited the memorial to pay their respects unaware that he was buried as an unknown soldier in the same cemetery.

Rfn Sleet’s great niece, Nancy Wright, who attended the service with her family, said, “Albert Sleet was killed before he married or had a family of his own. As grandchildren and great grandchildren of Albert’s brothers and sisters, who loved him dearly and who always remembered him, we are honoured to be representing his family. We wish to thank all those whose dedication and hard work enabled his final resting place to be identified and who have organised a such a fitting rededication service for him. It is a great comfort for us to know that he was never missing, but buried beside his comrades all along. May they all rest in peace.”

Lt Piercy was killed aged 35, near Loos-en-Gohelle on 26 September 1915, the second day of the Battle of Loos. He was commemorated on the Loos Memorial. The rededication service at Arras Road Cemetery was attended by members of his family.

Angela Ridge, a great great niece of Lt Piercy, said, “We’re proud to be able to represent Wilfrid’s immediate family and are immensely grateful to those who did the research and enabled the rededication service to take place.”

Sjt Gration was killed on 24 March 1918, shortly after the beginning of the German Spring Offensive as British forces were overwhelmed and in retreat. Sjt Gration was recorded as missing and commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Following his death, Sjt Gration was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation published in the London Gazette of 21 October 1918 stated, ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. When his officer had become a casualty, he led his platoon with great courage and determination, reaching his objective and personally killing three of the enemy. During the whole time he set a fine example to his men.’

The services were attended by serving soldiers of The London Regiment and The Rifles, and were conducted by the Reverend Richard Terrado-Reardon CF Chaplain to The London Regiment.

The headstones over their graves will now be replaced by the CWGC, who will care for their final resting places in perpetuity.

ALSO READ-Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh shown learning Hindi

Categories
-Top News UK News

Graves of 3 soldiers killed during Great War rededicated

The services were attended by serving soldiers of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment 35 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, and veterans from the Hampshire Regiment Association…reports Asian Lite News

The graves of Sapper (Spr) Stanley Evelyn Barnden of 17th Field Company Royal Engineers, Lance Corporal (LCpl) Owen James Munday and Private (Pte) Leonard George Holiday, both of 15th (Hampshire Yeomanry) Battalion The Hampshire Regiment, were rededicated more than a hundred years after they died.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Heestert Military Cemetery and Vichte Military Cemetery respectively, all in Belgium. 

The services were attended by serving soldiers of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment 35 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, and veterans from the Hampshire Regiment Association. 

Rosie Barron, JCCC said: “It has been an honour to organise these rededication services alongside The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and 35 Engineer Regiment, and to have played a part in the identification of the graves of these missing soldiers.

“Although the families of Spr Barnden, LCpl Munday and Pte Holiday were not able to attend these services today, their sacrifice has been remembered in the presence of their regimental families.”

The graves of all three men were identified after researchers submitted evidence suggesting that their graves had been located. After further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and MOD JCCC, it was confirmed as part of MOD JCCC’s adjudication process that these men had in fact been found.

The initial evidence concerning the graves of LCpl Munday and Pte Holiday was submitted by Michiel Vanmarcke, a local Belgian student with a passion for First World War history. Michiel attended the services along with members of his family.

Michiel Vanmarcke said, “I am deeply honoured to have contributed to the identifications of L/Cpl Munday and Private Holiday. As a 21-year-old Belgian who grew up in the area where both these men were killed, I feel some sort of connection with them. Seeing Munday and Holiday honoured today, a few years after handing over my initial report, really is the cherry on the cake.”

ALSO READ-Queen greets Trudeau in person after Covid scare

Categories
Defence India News

384 soldiers receive defence decorations; 12 Shaurya Chakras

At approximately 8:15 pm, in a bid to escape, two terrorists rushed out of the target house towards the street while firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades…reports Asian Lite News

A total 384 Indian armed forces soldiers will received gallantry and other defence decorations, including 12 Shaurya Chakras, on the eve of 73rd Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

These gallantry awards include 12 Shaurya Chakras, 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 13 Yudh Seva Medals, three Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 122 Vishisht Seva Medals, three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 81 Sena Medals (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 40 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), and 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty).

Out of the 12 Shaurya Chakra awardees, six Indian Army officers were honoured with Shaurya Chakra for counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern states. Out of the six, five were posthumously awarded.

Naib Subedar Sreejith M. of the 17th battalion of Madras Regiment has been honoured posthumously for counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. On July 8, 2021, Sreejith as Quick Reaction Team commander while carrying out search in densely forested and rugged terrain observed movement of two to three terrorists.

He tactically deployed his team and engaged the terrorists with effective fire, denying them to break contact and escape. Amid the intense firefight, he observed two terrorists trying to break the cordon. He crawled to the flank and brought down effective fire, eliminating one terrorist. The other terrorists retaliated with a grenade launcher fire and hand grenades in which, Sreejith sustained multiple injuries and started bleeding profusely. Undeterred and regardless of his grievous injuries, he refused to get evacuated and continued to fire before succumbing to his injuries.

Anil Kumar Tomar of the Rajput Regiment has been honoured Shaurya Chakra posthumously for counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. On December 25, 2020, Tomar was leading a combat action team for the operation. He was directed by the mission leader to readjust the cordon. While moving for the task, he came under heavy fire from the terrorists and sustained bullet injury in his thigh. Despite that, he responded with accurate fire and neutralised a terrorist. Then he pursued the second terrorist, injured him and cornered him inside a house.

When the mission leader decided to address the house using an excavator, Tomar, despite being injured, volunteered. When the house was being addressed, the injured second terrorist emerged from the house firing indiscriminately. He engaged the second terrorist and neutralised him but succumbed to his injuries.

Kashiray Bammanalli of Engineers Corps also received Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Bammanalli was a combat action team leader and laid a cordon towards likely escape route along the orchards at a village in Pulwama district. At 11:15 pm, the terrorists tried to flee by lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately in the direction of Bammanalli. He responded with fire and pushed the terrorists back inside the house. At 11:50 pm, in yet another desperate attempt to break the cordon, the terrorists lobbed grenades and brought heavy fire on Kashiray.

Despite sustaining injury on his chest, he eliminated the terrorist. Sensing danger to his flank, he crawled forward to a vantage position and accurately engaged three other terrorists from close range, thereby saving the lives of other troopers. The terrorists were subsequently neutralised.

Pinku Kumar of Jat Regiment has been honoured with Shaurya Chakra posthumously. On March 27, 2021, Kumar was part of the inner cordon during an operation in Kashmir. Kumar along with Sepoy Sushil Rathi were covering the most likely escape route of the terrorists.

At approximately 8:15 pm, in a bid to escape, two terrorists rushed out of the target house towards the street while firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades.

Kumar tactically re-oriented his position, engaged them with accurate fire and instantly eliminated one terrorist. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the second terrorist took a detour and hid behind the wall of a house.

Mindful of the risk to own life, Kumar stealthily moved towards the house and engaged him in a close combat. In the exchange of fire, Kumar injured the terrorist, but sustained grievous gun shot wound on his head and later succumbed to his injuries.

Sepoy Maruprolu Jaswanth Kumar Reddy of 17th battalion of the Madras Regiment has been honoured with Shaurya Chakra posthumously. On July 8, 2021, Reddy as scout number two while carrying out search in densely-forested and rugged terrain observed the movement of terrorists and immediately engaged them.

Reddy blocked the most likely route to escape. He displayed raw courage and eliminated a terrorist. While he crawled forward to engage the other terrorists, he saw his team commander severely injured in terrorist’s fire. He immediately lobbed grenades to pin down the terrorists and swiftly pulled his commander to cover.

In doing so, he came under heavy fire from the terrorists and sustained grievous injuries, but disregarding his personal safety, he continued to engage the terrorists before succumbing to his injuries.

Rifleman Rakesh Sharma of 5 Assam Rifles has also been honoured with Shaurya Chakra for counter-terror operation in Asssam.

Sharma was part of an ambush after receiving information about movement of insurgents for extortion and killing of civilians at a village in Assam on May 23, 2021.

The operational contact was established at 2 am and a firefight with the column had confirmed neutralisation of four insurgents.

At 4 am, Sharma, sensing a gap in the ambush, reorganised his location along with his rifleman Robinson. They drew heavy fire from the tail-end of the ambush. Sharma spotted two insurgents fleeing the ambush in the cover of dense foliage. He immediately pursued through woods under covering fire from Robinson and closed in to cut off the escape route.

Sharma shot dead a fleeing insurgent but being out of cover, he drew heavy fire from the second insurgent. He crawled to take cover under a fallen tree. Showcasing superlative combat shooting, he gunned down the second insurgent as well.

ALSO READ-India @ 73: PM greets nation on special day

Categories
-Top News Defence India News

Soldiers protective shield of Mother India, says PM

Paying rich tribute to heroes of Nowshera, Brig Usman, Naik Jadunath Singh, Lt R.R. Rane and others, PM said he brought the wishes of the 130 crore Indian, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told army soldiers on Thursday that he has brought wishes of 130 crore Indians for them as he celebrated Diwali with soldiers in J&K’s Rajouri district.

Paying rich tribute to heroes of Nowshera, Brig Usman, Naik Jadunath Singh, Lt R.R. Rane and others, he said, “I have brought the wishes of the 130 crore Indian for you”.

“Today’s India, in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of the freedom is alert about its capabilities and resources. Connectivity in border areas from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, from Jaisalmer to Andaman Nicobar has been established with modern infrastructure, leading to unprecedented improvement in the infrastructure and convenience for soldiers. Participation of women in the country’s defence is touching new heights. Indian Armed forces are as professional as the top armed forces of the world, but its human values make it distinct and extraordinary. We don’t perceive the nation as government, power or empire, for us, it is living, present soul, defending this is not limited to defending just the geographical boundaries. For us, national defence means defending national vibrancy, national unity, and national integration”, Modi said while addressing soldiers in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

Like all his previous years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated this Diwali also with armed forces.

The Prime Minister said that spending Diwali with the Armed Forces, for him, is in the same spirit as to celebrate Diwali with his family. He said, that is why, he has spent all his Diwali with the armed forces at the border after assuming constitutional post.

He said he has not come alone, but has brought with him the wishes of 130 crore Indians. He said, this evening, every Indian will light one ‘diya’ to convey his or her wishes for the brave soldiers of the country.

“Serving the country as being done by the brave sons and daughters of the country, is a good fortune that is not available to everyone”, he said.

From Nowshera, Modi greeted the countrymen on Diwali and other upcoming festivals such as Goverdhan Puja, Bhaiyya Dooj and Chatth Puja. He also wished Gujarati people for their new year.

He said Nowshera’s history celebrates the bravery of India and its present is the embodiment of the bravery and determination of the soldiers. The region has stood strongly against the aggressor and encroachers.

He paid rich tribute to the heroes of Nowshera, Brigadier Mohammad Usman and Naik Jadunath Singh who made the supreme sacrifice for defending the motherland.

He saluted Lt R.R. Rane and other bravehearts who set unprecedented examples of valour and patriotism. The Prime Minister also described his feelings for taking blessings of Baldev Singh and Basant Singh who supported armed forces steadfastly.

He also praised the Brigade stationed there for their role in the surgical strike. He recalled the moment of relief when all the brave soldiers returned safely from the strike.

The Prime Minister said that the responsibility of protecting the freedom of the county vests with everyone and today’s India, in the Amrit Kaal of the freedom is alert about its capabilities and resources. He also talked about the growing ‘Aatmnirbharta’ in defence resources as opposed to earlier time of dependence on the foreign countries.

He said 65 per cent of the Defence Budget is being used inside the country. A list of 200 products, a positive list, that will be procured only indigenously has been prepared. The list is going to be expanded soon, he said. He also talked of the 7 new Defence companies launched on Vijaya Dashmi as the old ordnance factories will now make specialized sector specific equipment and ammunition.

Defence Corridors are also coming up. India’s youth is involved in vibrant defence related startups. All this will strengthen India’s position as defence exporter, he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Indian Military power needs to be expanded and transformed according to the changing needs. He said fast changing technology landscape has demanded new changes, that is why it is critical to ensure coordination in the integrated Military leadership. CDS and Department of Military Affairs are steps in that direction. Similarly, modern border infrastructure will enhance the country’s military muscle, he said.

He remarked that connectivity in border areas from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, from Jaisalmer to Andaman Nicobar has been established with modern infrastructure, leading to unprecedented improvement in the infrastructure and convenience for soldiers.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the participation of women in the country’s defence is touching new heights. After being deployed on the frontlines in Navy and Air Force, now women’s role is being expanded in Army also.

Along with opening up of the Permanent Commission, NDA, National Military School, National Indian Military College for women, the Prime Minister mentioned his Independence Day announcement of opening up Sainik Schools for the girls.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi celebrating Diwali with the Indian Airforce Soldiers, at Jammu Airport on November 04, 2021. (PIB)

The Prime Minister said that in the armed forces, he not only sees boundless capabilities but also unwavering service spirit, strong determination and incomparable sensitivity. This makes Indian armed forces, unique among the armed forces of the world. Indian Armed forces are as professional as the top armed forces of the world but its human values make it distinct and extraordinary, the Prime Minister said.

“For you, this is not just a job for salary, for you this is a worship, in which you channel the spirit of 130 crore people,” the Prime Minister said. He continued, “empires come and go but India was eternal thousands of years ago and remains so today and will remain eternal after thousands of years later. We don’t perceive the nation as government, power or empire, for us, it is living, present soul, defending this is not limited to defending just the geographical boundaries. For us national defence means defending this living national vibrancy, national unity, and national integration”.

The Prime Minister concluded, “if our armed forces are blessed with sky touching valour, their hearts are ocean of human kindness also, that is why our armed forces not only defend the borders but are also always ready to help during calamity and natural disasters. It has grown as a strong trust in the heart of every Indian. You are the custodians and defenders of India’s unity and integrity and the emotion of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. I am fully confident that with the inspiration of your bravery, we will take India to the zenith of growth and progress”.

ALSO READ-Modi Celebrates Diwali With Army Troops in J&K

READ MORE-Sudan army chief orders release of 4 Ministers of transitional govt