Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday visited the forward posts in Arunachal Pradesh and carried out first-hand on-ground assessment of the operational preparedness of the armed forces there.
The Defence Minister interacted with the troops deployed in the frontline locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and celebrated Dussehra with the soldiers.
Singh expressed gratitude to the unyielding spirit, unwavering commitment and unparalleled courage of the troops, who are deployed on the borders in tough conditions, but always ensure that the nation and its people are safe.
The entire nation is proud of the Armed Forces and is standing with them, he said.
Singh performed ‘Shastra Puja’ with the troops at Tawang, where he reiterated that Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil.
In his address, he described the righteousness and dharma of the brave Armed Forces personnel as the living testament to the ethos of the festival of Vijayadashmi.
The Raksha Mantri pointed out that the valour and commitment of the Armed Forces is one of the main reasons that India’s stature has grown on the international stage and it is now among the most powerful nations.
Citing his recent tour to Italy, he stated that he paid a visit to Montone memorial (Perugia Province) which has been built to honour the contribution of Naik Yaswant Ghadge and other Indian soldiers who fought in the Italian campaign to liberate Montone in World War II.
Not just Indians, but even Italian people pay their respects at the memorial, which is proof that the bravery of Indian soldiers is recognised globally, he added.
