Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War victory on Friday, saying that the triumph belongs to all 1.40 crore people of India, not any specific government or political group.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi paid tribute to the soldiers who made the country proud in 1999 by defeating the enemy on the Kargil heights. He criticized past governments for neglecting to build war memorials and for failing to actively participate in Kargil War victory celebrations.
“For 70 years, previous governments avoided the demand for war memorials and did not participate in Kargil War victory celebrations. I have the honor of being here for the Silver Jubilee because the people elected me for a third term. If they had been in power, they would not be here,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that previous administrations viewed the defense forces merely as subjects for parades and salutes, while his government sees them as crucial for maintaining national security and integrity.
Modi also addressed issues related to defence procurement and the Agnipath Scheme, which aims to modernize the military. He accused former governments of not providing the latest equipment and criticized their opposition to the Agnipath Scheme, which is intended to keep the armed forces young and fit.
“They claim the scheme is just to save on pensions, forgetting that a soldier recruited now would be eligible for a pension in 30 years, by which time I would be 105,” he said.
On defence modernization, Modi said that the defence allocation has risen to over Rs 1.25 lakh crore. He said that India’s defence forces are now equipped with advanced technology and are becoming producers and exporters of defence equipment.
PM Modi announced progress in the Ladakh region, including the inauguration of the Shinkun La tunnel, which will connect Zanskar with Himachal Pradesh, providing year-round road access. He noted that the budget for Ladakh has increased from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 6,000 crore, and several infrastructure projects are underway.
“Once completed, the Shinkun La tunnel will open new avenues for development in Ladakh. The region is seeing improvements in road connectivity, safe drinking water, digital access, and education,” Modi said. He also mentioned ongoing work on the 13 km long Zojila Tunnel and the completion of 330 infrastructure projects by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the past three years.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial to honour over 545 martyrs and visited the war memorial museum in Drass.
