PM pays homage at War Memorial, Cong asks why Indira Gandhi blanked out

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 16

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today paid effusive tributes while remembering the courage, valour and sacrifice of the armed forces during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

The Congress, however, slammed the government for indulging in petty politics by not mentioning former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Vijay Diwas celebrations.

Modi recalled the valour and sacrifice by the Mukti Jodhas, Biranganas and bravehearts of the Indian armed forces on the 50th Vijay Diwas. Rajnath Singh, in a series of tweets, termed the 1971 war as the golden chapter in India’s military history. Both PM Modi and Rajnath paid homage at National War Memorial in the India Gate complex.

BJP government misogynist

Our first and only woman PM Indira Gandhi is being left out of the misogynist BJP government’s Vijay Diwas celebrations. This, on the 50th anniv of the day that she led India to victory and liberated Bangladesh. —Priyanka Gandhi, Cong

Rajnath shared some archival pictures from the 1971 war, including the historic photograph of Instrument of Surrender. The Defence Minister also unveiled an India Post special day cover and a commemorative stamp marking the golden jubilee of India’s victory during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. “The stamp is symbolic of the resilience and tenacity of soldiers, sailors and airmen, who were motivated by their leaders and convinced by the righteousness of their cause,” a statement of the Ministry of Defence said.

December 16 is celebrated as Vijay Diwas each year to mark the day of surrender and decisive victory of Indian armed forces over Pakistani armed forces. Instrument of Surrender was signed in Dhaka on December 16, 1971, by Lt General AAK Niazi accepting decisive defeat in Eastern Theatre. From the Indian side, the document was signed by Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora. Some 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered and Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation. This was the largest surrender of armed forces after World War II.

Just as Modi and Rajnath were at the function, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reminded that it was Indira Gandhi under whose leadership the war was won. She tweeted: “Our first and only woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is being left out of the misogynist BJP government’s Vijay Diwas celebrations. This, on the 50th anniversary of the day that she led India to victory and liberated Bangladesh”

With her tweets, Priyanka posted four black-and-white photographs, including one of Indira visiting a wounded soldier and another of her meeting officers of the armed forces.

Rahul Gandhi, at a rally in Uttarakhand, said Indira’s name was not even mentioned at a government event marking Vijay Diwas.