Def. Minister Rajnath Singh celebrates Shaurya Diwas in Srinagar

Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Shaurya Diwas at Old Air Field, Srinagar on Thursday, a defence ministry spokesman said.
The day marked the 75th year of induction of the Indian Army to save the state of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan invasion in 1947.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also graced the event. Army chief General Manoj Pande, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Air Marshal S Prabhakaran, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Lieutenant General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps along with several other civil and military dignitaries and citizens in Kashmir formed part of the event today.
The Day is celebrated as part of celebrations for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and 75th year of Air landed operations of Indian Army at Budgam Airport.
The replication of the historic event was organised at Old Air Field today to pay obeisance to the brave soldiers and people of Jammu & Kashmir, who laid down their lives and also to honour the Next of Kin of war heroes, who participated in the 1947-48 Indo-Pak War, the spokesman said.
Singh along with citizens of Kashmir witnessed re-enactment of history, covering the violation of ‘Standstill Agreement’ by Pakistan, wherein Pakistan Army infiltrated Jammu & Kashmir, brutalizing citizens by unleashing rape, murder, looting and arson.
The event also covered the depiction of the arrival of the Indian Army on this day in 1947 to evict Pakistani Forces.
A stunning Air show by the Indian Air Force was also on display, mesmerizing the attendees.
The Next of Kin of War veterans who travelled from across the country to be part of this mega event were also felicitated.
Badgam landings were the first military operations of independent India, when the Indian Army was inducted by the Indian Air Force at Budgam Airport on October 27, 1947.
The 1st SIKH Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, who later laid down his life at Baramulla, changed the course of the war, wherein people and soldiers of State Forces of Jammu & Kashmir and the Indian Army fought valiantly alongside to evict Pakistani Forces, driving them out of most of Jammu & Kashmir till ceasefire on January 5, 1949.
October 27 is celebrated as “Infantry Day” by the Indian Army to commemorate the arrival of Indian Army at Badgam Airfield to protect Jammu & Kashmir after the “Instrument of Accession” was signed on October 26, 1947 between Maharaja Hari Singh and the Republic of India. (UNI)