Page 29 - 15MAR2019E

war memorial

Memorial and that a national war me- dressing the gathering said “Today peo- has been a demand for a super-special-
morial will be built at India Gate. He ple are asking why such injustice was ity hospital, and announced that three
added that the group of ministers has done with heroes and martyrs. What such super-speciality hospitals would
cleared all outstanding issues on the were the reasons that no one focused be set up.
matter and the armed forces will finally on the martyrs? India first or ‘family Giving some more illustrations of
get their wish. first.” the Government’s approach towards
In February 2014 in the build-up to Earlier, addressing a large rally of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister
the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Ex-Servicemen, the Prime Minister mentioned the encouragement being
Modi spoke about how previous gov- said that it is the result of the valour given to innovations by soldiers dur-
ernment had failed to construct the war and dedication of lakhs of soldiers that ing Army Day, Navy Day and Air Force
memorial and promised a National War the Indian Army is today considered Day events. He also mentioned the Gal-
Memorial. On October 7, 2015, Cabinet among the strongest in the world. He lantry Awards Portal launched on 15
passed the proposal to build the war said that the soldiers have been the first th August, 2017. He said women have
memorial and approved Rs 500 crore line of defence, both against enemies, now got the opportunity to become
for the memorial and museum. In May and against natural disasters. fighter pilots. He said that women of-
2016 the Cabinet apprised the Union The Prime Minister recalled the ficers in short service commission are
Cabinet, of the decision taken by the CRPF jawans who sacrificed their lives being given opportunities for perma-
Empowered Apex Steering Committee in the recent terror attack in Pulwama, nent commission at par with their male
(EASC) that the National War Memorial counterparts.
would be constructed at “C” Hexagon of The Prime Minister said that change
India Gate as approved. On February 25, It was almost after has been initiated in the entire ecosys-
2019, the National War Memorial was about 50 years tem of defence procurement. He said
dedicated to the nation. transparency and level playing field
A War Museum will be also con- on October 20, 2012, are the hallmarks of the Government’s
structed in the adjoining Princess approach.
Park area. A subway will connect the that AK Antony, the The Prime Minister said that the In-
proposed National War Museum and then Defence dian Army has participated in about 50
the National War Memorial. The me- out of 70 major UN peacekeeping mis-
morial is made around the canopy Minister, had sions, and about 2 lakh soldiers have
near the India Gate. Names of martyrs announced that been a part of these operations. He said
killed in wars in 1947, 1961(Goa), 1962 the navies of 50 countries were part of
(China), 1965, 1971, 1987(Siachen), 1988 a National War the International Fleet Review organ-
(Sri Lanka) and 1999 (Kargil), and other Memorial will be ized by the Indian Navy in 2016. He also
operations are inscribed on the memo- said that our Armed Forces conduct an
rial walls. The chennai-based Architect built at India Gate average of ten big joint exercises with
Yogesh Chandrahasan who designed Armed Forces of friendly countries,
the project said, “The whole concept every year.
is based on the thought that the war and paid homage to all the martyrs who He said that the huge reduction in
memorial should be a place where we made the supreme sacrifice, defending piracy in the Indian Ocean, is due, to a
don’t mourn death, but celebrate the India. He said that New India is grow- large extent, to the military might of In-
life of the soldiers and pay respect to the ing in stature globally, and this is due in dia, and our international partnerships.
sacrifices made by them. large measure to its Armed Forces. He The Prime Minister referred to the
National War Memorial was an elec- expressed happiness that the National long-pending demand from the Indian
toral promise of the BJP in the run-up War Memorial, or Rashtriya Samar Army for 1.86 lakh bullet-proof jackets,
to 2014, which now stands fulfilled. The Smaarak, has been dedicated to the and said the Union Government has
unveiling of the National War Memo- nation. procured over 2.30 lakh bullet-proof
rial, just months ahead of the Lok Sabha The Prime Minister recalled that the jackets over the last four and a half
polls, has come as a shot in the arm for Union Government had also fulfilled years. He said the Union Government is
the Prime Minister. Prime Minister said its pledge of providing One Rank, One equipping the Indian Army with mod-
that “Few people think their family in- Pension to the soldiers and ex-service- ern aircraft, helicopters, submarines,
terests come before the interests of the men. He said OROP has resulted in an ships and weaponry. He said decisions
nation... They had made the army and increase in pension of upto 40 percent, pending for a long time, are being taken
the national security means of earning and an increase in salaries of soldiers of in national interest.
for themselves. They wanted to forget upto 55 percent, compared to 2014. The
the martyrs.” PM Modi said while ad- Prime Minister mentioned that there letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2019 29 www.Tehelka.com