Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj Monday accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of having “forgotten” the Kargil martyrs.
Addressing a ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ function here, organized by ‘Friends of BJP’, Swaraj said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government used to organise a series of programmes on July 26 to mark the day of the country’s victory over Pakistani intruders in Kargil.

She said that candles were lit every year July 26 near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the entrance of parliament to remind people of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, but the practice was discontinued after the change in government.

“They have forgotten the martyrs (of Kargil)… A martyr does not belong to a party. He belongs to the country,” she said.

The BJP leader said that the Pakistani intruders were evicted from their last occupied post in Kargil July 26 evening and the day was observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Swaraj, who is leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, said she had reminded Speaker Meria Kumar during a meeting of leaders of various political parties Sunday that the Lok Sabha should pay tributes to the Kargil martyrs Monday.

However, she said she had learnt from a colleague that tributes were not paid to them in the Rajya Sabha.

Swaraj said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked the defence forces to reclaim every inch of the territory from Pakistani intruders.

She said that the NDA government ensured that bodies of martyrs were flown back to their families with state honours.

The BJP leader said that the UPA government had not been able to take a decision on the long pending one-rank-one-pension demand of ex-servicemen.

Swaraj said there should be a separate pay commission for defence forces so as to make defence services an attractive career for the youth.

Senior party leaders L.K. Advani, party general secretary Vijay Goel, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur were among those who paid tributes to Kargil martyrs by visiting Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate.