Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: Rajnath Singh Pays Tribute To Operation Vijay Heroes At Dras

Dras: On the 27th anniversary of Operation Vijay, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday paid tribute to the martyrs at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh. He also met and honoured the families of the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the conflict.

Did the Defence Minister attend Shaurya Sandhya?

The Defence Minister arrived in Drass on Saturday to participate in the 'Shaurya Sandhya' programme organised at the Kargil War Memorial, part of the two-day Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.

Rajnath Singh handed a ceremonial kalash (sacred metal pot) to some family members of the personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil conflict.

The programme, which began on the eve of Kargil Vijay Diwas, will conclude on Sunday with a wreath-laying ceremony and the flag-in of the Shaurya Vijay Yatra from the National War Memorial in Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras. 

The Defence Minister will be the chief guest at the Shradhanjali Samaroh on Sunday.

What did Rajnath Singh say?

While addressing the Army personnel at Shaurya Bhoj in Drass, Rajnath Singh said that even today the challenges have not diminished. The intentions of the infiltrators have not changed, and they still use tactics like proxy warfare and infiltration. He said that he is confident that the Indian Army is fully prepared to face any such challenge.

"Today, we are all able to breathe with our heads held high in the open air because back then in Kargil, even in minus temperatures, our soldiers did not lower their guns despite the lack of oxygen. Today, India's flag is waving in Kashmir with full pride because in the 1999 Kargil War, India's soldiers, demonstrating their valour, had hoisted the Tricolour on the enemy's chest," he said.

What about the Kargil war?

Following a Pakistani incursion on May 5, 1999, a war broke out between India and Pakistan on the Kargil mountain peaks. The war lasted for approximately 84 days. The war officially ended with India's victory on July 26, 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate the sacrifices and valor of Indian soldiers.