Paying tribute to soldiers of 1962 war, Rajnath Singh inaugurates revamped war memorial in Rezang La
In remarks following the inauguration, Rajnath Singh described the memorial as tangible evidence of the courage and determination showcased by the Indian Army.
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Leh, November 19: Paying tribute to the soldiers who had been part of the epic battle of 1962 Indo-China war, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday inaugurated a revamped war memorial in eastern Ladakh's Rezang La. The epic battle showcased the valour and power of 120 soldiers taking on several thousand Chinese troops. Fighting under freezing temperatures with dwindling ammunition, only six Indian soldiers survived the battle.
In remarks following the inauguration, Rajnath Singh described the memorial as tangible evidence of the courage and determination showcased by the Indian Army. "Paid tributes to India’s bravehearts at Rezang La today. The nation will never forget their courage, valour and supreme sacrifice," he tweeted, sharing pictures of the memorial.
"As long as I am the Defence Minister of India, I will keep visiting the Rezang La memorial every year," Singh said to applause. This battle, he added, was considered "one of the 10 greatest and most challenging military conflicts in the world." He also lauded the civilians of Rezang La for consistently aiding the Army.
The Defence Minister met retired Brigadier R B Jatar who had been part of the battle of Rezang La. "I am overwhelmed by the feeling of respect for him and I salute his courage. May God keep them healthy and live long," he wrote on Twitter sharing a photo.
Emphasising the military might and strength of India, Singh said that the country could not be dismissed very easily. Today's India, he contended, was not a weak country. "We have full confidence in our Defence forces...we have never attacked or grabbed land of any country," he said.
The war memorial has been opened to the public at a time when India and China continue to remain locked in a border dispute in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Army had incidentally occupied several mountain peaks in the region in August 2020 after China made several failed attempts to intimidate Indian troops.