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Photo Gallery: PM Modi dedicates National War Memorial to nation`s martyrs
Photo Gallery: PM Modi dedicates National War Memorial to nation`s martyrs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the National War Memorial in Delhi by lighting the 'eternal flame' at the monument. The monument consists of an obelisk centered inside four concentric circles, built to commemorate soldiers who were martyred in the line of duty since Independence. Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen during the inauguration of the war museum at the National Stadium here, PM Modi also slammed the Gandhi family, stating that the probe into all the major defence scams leading to one family said a lot.
PM Modi said his government was bringing in modern weaponry to strengthen the armed forces. The government has given its nod to purchase 72,000 assault rifles and 25,000 crore ammunition, he added.
After lighting the 'eternal flame', the Prime Minister said: "This memorial is inscribed with the names of thousands of martyrs who will keep inspiring future generations for years to come to contribute in the service of the nation".
Before him, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also addressed the gathering and said that building of the monument was long time due.
Since Independence, more than 25,000 personnel have been martyred during the India-China War in 1962, the Indo-Pakistan wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka and the conflict in Kargil in 1999.
The National War Memorial also commemorates the soldiers who participated and made supreme sacrifices in United Nations peace-keeping missions, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, counter insurgency operations and Low Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO).
The four concentric circles are named: "Amar Chakra" or Circle of Immortality, the "Veerta Chakra" or Circle of Bravery, the "Tyag Chakra" or Circle of Sacrifice and the "Rakshak Chakra" or Circle of Protection.
The outermost circle, the Rakshak Chakra, comprises rows of more than 600 trees, representing the soldiers who guard the territorial integrity of the nation.