
Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi, President Murmu pay tributes; know history, significance and celebrations happening today
'Heartfelt greetings to the countrymen on Kargil Vijay Diwas. This occasion reminds us of the unparalleled courage and valor of those brave sons of Mother India who dedicated their lives to protect the nation's pride. Their passion to sacrifice everything for the motherland will continue to inspire every generation. Jai Hind!' PM Modi said on X.
President Murmu stated, 'On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. This day symbolizes the extraordinary valor, courage, and steadfast determination of our jawans. Their dedication and supreme sacrifice for the nation will forever inspire its citizens. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!'
Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year on July 26th, honours India's hard-earned triumph in the Kargil War of 1999. The conflict started in May 1999 when Pakistani troops, disguised as militants, covertly occupied key high-altitude positions in the Kargil region of India. To regain control, the Indian Army initiated 'Operation Vijay', a challenging mission to recapture these perilous mountain heights under harsh weather conditions.
After nearly two months of intense fighting, India successfully pushed out the infiltrators and announced victory on July 26, 1999, though the victory came with the sacrifice of 527 courageous soldiers. This day serves as a solemn remembrance of their valor and sacrifice, reinforcing the nation's unity, highlighting the Indian Armed Forces' tactical skill and endurance, and inspiring patriotism as a strong emblem of India's determination to protect its borders.
As India observes Kargil Vijay Diwas with profound respect and patriotic pride, marking the 26th anniversary of the 1999 victory, various ceremonies and events across the nation will honour the sacrifices made during the Kargil War.
At the forefront, the main ceremony will be held at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh. Senior officials alongside the families of martyrs will lay wreaths in tribute. Simultaneous commemorations will take place nationwide, paying homage to the brave soldiers.
Special events will recognise and honour the families of the those who laid down their lives. Patriotic programmes, including cultural performances and songs, are planned to inspire the spirit of nationalism. Additionally, schools and colleges will engage students through quizzes, speeches, and other educational activities to ensure the younger generation understands the significance of the war and the sacrifices involved.
The Indian Army will unveil several new initiatives to deepen public engagement. These include the launch of an 'e-shradhanjali' portal, enabling people to pay their respects online, and a QR code-based audio app that narrates gripping stories from the battlefields. Furthermore, the Indus Viewpoint in Batalik will open to offer visitors a direct view of the Line of Control, providing insight into the strategic terrain.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
2 minutes ago
- First Post
'India-US ties go beyond trade deal or ceasefire claims': Govt sources on why India didn't call Trump 'a liar'
Regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare US President Donald Trump a 'liar', sources in the government have said that the India-US relationship goes beyond the disagreement over the ceasefire and trade talks and should not be compromised on these issues. read more Sources in the Union government have stressed that the India-US relationship goes beyond the disagreement over the ceasefire in the India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year and cannot be compromised over the issue. Since May when India and Pakistan clashed for four days before reaching a ceasefire on May 10, US President Donald Trump has claimed that he brokered the ceasefire between the two countries. India, on the other hand, has maintained that Pakistan made a request after four days of battering that India granted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should publicly declare Trump a 'liar' over his false claims. Notably, while the government has not used the word 'liar', it has repeated multiple times that the ceasefire was a result of India accepting Pakistan's request and no third-party intervention was at play there. 'If Narendra Modi has even 50 per cent of the courage of Indira Gandhi, he should declare in the House that Trump is lying about the ceasefire,' said Rahul. On the intervening night of May 6-7, India launched Operation Sindoor and struck terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). It was launched in response to the attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which terrorists killed 26 people on April 22. After Pakistan responded to Indian strikes with attacks on Indian civilian and military sites, India struck Pakistani military sites, including airbases and air defence units and, after four days of battering, Pakistan reached out to India with a request for a ceasefire on May 10. India granted Pakistan the request. India-US ties go beyond disagreements, say sources Sources in the Union government have said that the India-US relationship goes beyond ongoing differences, such as differences over the ceasefire in the India-Pakistan conflict and ongoing trade talks. Even as the August 1 deadline for a trade deal is just around the corner, India and the United States have not been able to reach any deal. It is believed that the Trump administration's refusal to respect Indian red lines about sensitive sectors of dairy and agriculture and genetically modified (GM) crops is the main barrier in the two sides reaching a deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump on Tuesday said that India will likely face 20-25 per cent tariff starting August 1, which will be much higher than the 15 per cent tariff that he has imposed on the European Union (EU) and Japan that he has struck deals with. Sources said that the United States has so far stood with India in disputes with China, such as during the Doklam standoff of 2017, and such an important relationship cannot be compromised on one or two differences. Moreover, sources stressed that the prime minister has publicly declared that no leader asked India to stop the war. Similarly, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that Modi and Trump never had the discussion about stopping the war. Sources further said that the Congress party has been in power before and it should know how governments function, suggesting that the party should realise the kind of words that the government would use to assert disagreement with the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


Mint
2 minutes ago
- Mint
‘Modi Govt put terrorism on global agenda': EAM Jaishankar's big claim in Rajya Sabha — top quotes
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday that terrorism has been brought on the global agenda because of the efforts of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government. Jaishankar was speaking in the Rajya Sabha, commencing the debate on Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor is being debated during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The operation was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The debate began in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while the Lok Sabha took up the discussion on Monday Here are the top quotes from the EAM speech: -Terrorism is now on the global agenda because of efforts of Modi govt -There was no linkage of trade in any conversation with US, other countries -Pakistan attacked, and India gave afitting and appropriate response -Despite not being its member, we were able to getan UNSC statement on bringing perpetrators of thePahalgam attack to justice -We were able to get UN recognition that The Resistance Front (TRF) is proxy of Pakistan-based LeT -On May 9, US Vice President informed PM Modi about Pakistan's plan of massive attack on India -Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, signed by the then Prime Minister was not to buy peace, but for appeasement -The Modi government has corrected the wrongs of Nehru's policies by suspendingthe Indus water treaty with Pakistan -India has faced cross-border terrorism since 1947 -Pahalgam terror attack absolutely unacceptable, red line crossed; there had to be accountability, justice. -When Operation Sindoor commenced, a number of countries were in touch with us to see how serious the situation was and how long it would go... We gave the same message to all the countries... that we were not open to any mediation. Anything between us and Pakistan will only be bilateral... And that we were responding to the Pakistani attack, and we would keep responding. If that fighting was to stop, Pakistan must make a request. And that request could only come through the channel of the DGMO. Terrorism is now on global agenda because of efforts of Modi govt.


Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
Modi govt has corrected Nehru's mistakes on Indus Water Treaty: EAM Jaishankar in RS
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday stated that the Modi government has rectified the historical mistakes made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) by putting it in abeyance until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the debate on Operation Sindoor, EAM Jaishankar began by expressing deep gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces. Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, he said, "It was a shocking attack for a variety of reasons -- the manner in which people were killed in front of their families, the fact that their religion was asked before killing them, and the intent of destroying the economy of Jammu and Kashmir which had returned to prosperity and normalcy after the end of Article 370 -- all of this angered the country. There was grief and shock. Across the world, there was solidarity and sympathy." He emphasised that such an attack was absolutely unacceptable and had crossed India's red lines. "There had to be severe consequences. There had to be accountability of the perpetrators, and they and their supporters had to be brought to justice," Jaishankar said. He noted that the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23 was the "first clear message of India's anger, resolve and determination". EAM Jaishankar recalled the key steps taken, including the cancellation of Pakistani visas under SAARC, reduction in diplomatic mission strength, expulsion of military advisors, and the holding of the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Describing the significance of putting the treaty in abeyance, he said, "The Indus Water Treaty in many ways is a very unique agreement. I cannot think of any agreement in the world where a country has allowed its major rivers to flow to the next country without having rights on that river. It was an extraordinary agreement, and it is important, when we have put it in abeyance, to recall the history of this event." Jaishankar referred to the parliamentary proceedings of the 1960s, quoting the then Prime Minister, who reportedly said the Indian government is keeping in mind the interests of West Punjab (Pakistan's Punjab). The EAM said the then PM had the interests of Pakistan "over its own farmers in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh." "Not a word about the interests of our own people. He said, 'We purchased peace'. But within a year, that same Prime Minister admitted there was no peace with Pakistan. What we purchased was not peace, but appeasement," EAM Jaishankar said. He argued that the treaty, "initially done in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, had become irrelevant as India had received neither goodwill nor friendship from Pakistan since 1960, only terrorism, attacks and wars." "Such a treaty had to be dealt with, and this government dealt with it," he said. Reiterating the Modi government's firm position, Jaishankar said, "This was not a price of peace, but a price of appeasement. The Modi government has corrected the mistakes of Pandit Nehru's policies by suspending the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. The Indus Water Treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism. Blood and water will not flow together."