JOIN USPM Modi dedicates National War Memorial to country
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated the newly constructed National War Memorial to the country.
Modi saluted the busts of Param Vir Chakra recipients before moving to the 15-metre-tall obelisk to light the eternal flame in honour of the martyrs.
In his speech, Modi paid respect to CRPF jawan martyred in the militant attack in Pulwama on February 14 as well as all the soldiers sacrificed during the duty. He said it is the fulfilment of vision (sankalp) of this government like the One Rank One Pension (OROP). He found time to attack the previous government for its inability to implement OROP.
"The government is going to build three super speciality hospitals for army men," Modi announced in the event. He also used BJP's poll tagline 'Namumkin ab mumkin hai' (Impossible is possible now), to point out the government's initiatives in the defence sector. At the end of the speech, he again said that the government under him will make the impossible possible in the future.
"The credit to end the piracy in the Indian Ocean goes to Indian Army," said Modi.
"NDA govt bought 2,30,000 bulletproof vests for army men, which was ignored the previous government for years. They played with the life of the soldiers," he stated. He also mentioned Bofors and Agusta Westland Helicopters, saying that the deals benefitted to one family.
He also promised that the first Rafale fighter jet will fly in Indian air in few months. Modi again took a jibe at Gandhi family, referring "for some people, the family is bigger than the nation."
"About two and a half decades ago the file of this memorial started moving, for a brief period during Atal ji's regime, the process was expedited but after him, situation was back to square one. Because of 'family first' mentality no previous governments thought of constructing a War Memorial," said the Prime Minister.
Huge spectators including the veteran soldiers and their families turned up to witness the inauguration.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave the welcome speech.
Spread over an area of 40 acres near the India Gate, the monument consists of four concentric circles symbolising the ancient war formation of Chakravyuh, a 15-metre tall central obelisk and an eternal flame.