President Pranab Mukherjee will lay wreath today, exhibition & carnival later
The Narendra Modi government is going all out to commemorate the golden jubilee of the “intense” 1965 war with Pakistan that had led to the capture of the Hajipir pass in J&K, with several events lined up.
President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, will lead the nation in paying homage and will lay a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti on August 28 in memory of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation during the 1965 war.
This will be followed by a “tri-services seminar” in the capital on September 1 and 2 attended by defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the three service chiefs. An exhibition showcasing various aspects of the 1965 war, including the weaponry used, will be held at the India Gate lawns in the capital from September 15 to 20.
A carnival showcasing Indian martial arts and also an air display by the IAF will be held at the India Gate lawns on September 20. On September 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti.
“The threat posed by the Indian armed forces to the famous city of Lahore still inspires and motivates Indian citizens. This great victory was made possible by the supreme sacrifice of nearly 3,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen... The government has taken a decision to celebrate the golden jubilee of this great victory at a national level with zeal and enthusiasm which will be a befitting tribute to the gallant heroes of the war,” the Army has said, in a recent note circulated within the government.
“The Indo-Pak war of 1965 is one of the most intense wars in the annals of military history. The operations saw some of the fiercest engagements on land, air and seas since World War-II. At the end of the war, a decisive defeat was inflicted on Pakistan wherein the Indian armed forces captured 3,900 sq. km. of Pakistani territory. The highlight of the war was the capture of the Hajipir pass in J&K and the creation of Patton Nagar in the Khemkaran sector of Punjab,” the Army had said in the note circulated within the government.
The Army has said that the golden jubilee celebrations of the “great victory” will “also go a long way in promoting the own narrative of victory while negating Pakistan’s incorrect perceptions”. This is an obvious reference to Pakistan claiming that it had won the 1965 war with India.
