Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit the Golden Victory Torch at the National War Memorial to mark 50 years of the decisive and historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
From today, the Golden Victory Year is being celebrated to commemorate this victory in the country. During this period, the victory ceremony will be organized at various places throughout the country.
Shri Modi went to the war memorial on Wednesday to pay tribute to the martyrs and lit four golden victory torches from the Amar Jawan Jyoti of the war memorial. These torches will be transported in special vehicles of the army to various parts of the country, especially the villages of the Army Ranbankur, who were honored with the Maha Vir Chakra and Param Vir Chakra, and the places where the Pakistani army fought. The soil of the battle sites and the martyrs and the village of the Shaurya Chakra winners will also be brought to the National War Memorial. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defense Shripad Yesso Nayak, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chiefs of the three Services and many other dignitaries were also present on the occasion of the event at the War Memorial. It is worth mentioning that in the 1971 war, the Indian Army had defeated Pakistan badly and more than 90000 soldiers of Pakistan had to surrender. This was the largest surrender of an army after World War II. It was only after this victory that Bangladesh came into existence as a new nation.