A large number of people, including ex-servicemen and serving Defence personnel, took part in a function to pay homage to defence personnel on the occasion of Kargil Diwas observed at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park.
As many as 527 soldiers laid down their lives and over 1,700 were injured in the 73-day war in Kargil in July 1999. The function was organised by the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement.
The programme began with Members of Parliament H.N. Ananth Kumar and Rajeev Chandrashekar, who is also the Chairman of the National Military Memorial Committee, placing the wreath in a ceremonial manner. This was followed by several ex-servicemen, including Lt. Gen. (Retd.) NSI Narahari, Maj. Gen. M.C. Nanjappa and Col. (Retd.) C.M. Uttaiah, the Director of the Department of Sainik Welfare, paying their homage to the soldiers.
Subhashini Vasant, wife of Colonel V. Vasant, who was killed in an encounter with militants in July 2007, expressed happiness over the decision of the Chief Minister to go ahead with the construction of the war memorial at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain premises. Mr. Chandrashekar said the war memorial would be ready by next year.
