Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas said India is ready to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to maintain its honour and dignity. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India's victory over Pakistan.
Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine war, he also called upon civilians to be ready to support the soldiers in such a situation.
Earlier, he laid a wreath at the memorial to pay tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil war. "We can go to any extreme to maintain the honour and dignity of the country...If that includes crossing the LoC, we are ready to do that. If we are instigated and if the need arises, we will cross the LoC," he said.
"Whenever there has been a war situation, our public has always supported the forces but that support has been indirect. I urge the public to be ready and mentally prepared to support the soldiers directly on the battlefield if the need arises," he added.
ALSO READ | 'Their bravery will always remain inspiration...': PM Modi pays rich tributes to Kargil heroes
Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: Akshay Kumar to Sidharth Malhotra; Bollywood celebs pay tribute to martyrs
Singh said the Kargil war was imposed on India, which was "backstabbed" by Pakistan. "The Kargil war was imposed on India. At that time, India had tried to solve the issues with Pakistan through talks. We are backstabbed by Pakistan. During Operation Vijay, the Indian Army sent a message not only to Pakistan but to the whole world that when it comes to our national interests, our Army will not back down at any cost. We are fully committed to safeguarding our national interests even today," the minister said.
