Candle Light for Kargil Martyrs

LETTER TO EDITOR By Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT: KARGIL WAR
Dated: 18 Jul 2009
Dear Editor in Chief ..... ,
1. Rashid Ali, a congress MP, has made a statement on 15 Jul 2009 out side Parliament that Kargil War was the BJP War and therefore, BJP can celebrate it. Congress is not going to participate in it. It is a shocking statement which reveals a total bankruptcy of a feeling of National pride and what India stands for. 527 soldiers who sacrificed their lives besides 1000 who were seriously injured, did not do so for a particular political party. They did it for the Nation. Such an irresponsible statement from an elected representative of the people tantamounts to denigrating the Defence Forces and the sprit of sacrifice of a soldier for his Nation. Not only the Armed Forces but the Nation as a whole stands humiliated.

2. The erring MP owes an apology to the Nation for making such a damaging statement which carries seeds of nation’s doom. UPA Govt should automatically take it upon itself to reprimand its MP and to assure the nation that there is no such anti- national feeling taking roots in its constituents.

3. It is pertinent to mention that in the recent past there have been attempts willfully or otherwise to show the Defence Forces in poor light. It is difficult to fathom the reasons for this unless this is the handiwork of elements inimical to the interest of the country. We appeal to all political parties to refrain from any action or statement which is likely to affect the morale of the Defence Forces and harm National Interest.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Kargil victory doesn’t enthuse govt a decade on

Candle for Kargil Martyrs
26 July is the ‘Tenth Anniversary’ of Kargil War, where in 527 officers and men, many in their early twenties, performed the supreme sacrifice, and 1363 were wounded, some crippled for life. The nation lionised them for a short time but, alas there after they were almost forgotten.
On Kargil Vijay Divas, a grateful nation must salute these heroes and remind itself that the Indian Military have unfailingly risen to the challenges each and every time, including natural and man-made calamities, yet remaining least demanding. The Ex-Servicemen will be paying their homage to the Martyrs, holding medical and dental camps , pledging their organs and donating blood at various War Memorials across the country from 10 AM onwards on Kargil Divas (for Tricity of Chandigarh the event will be observed at Major Sankla War Memorial, Panchklula). Patriotic citizens must join the Veterans in doing the same. They must light a candle at their homes in the memory of those ‘who gave their yesterday for our tomorrow’.
Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)
Member Steering Committee,
Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement