Vajra Corps celebrates 71st Raising Day

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 1

Vajra Corps celebrated the 71st Raising Day at Jalandhar Cantonment here on Monday.

To mark the occasion, Lieut Gen C Bansi Ponnappa, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, laid a wreath and paid homage to the martyrs at Vajra Shaurya Sthal and thereafter addressed all ranks. He said the Vajra Corps was the first army corps raised post-Independence on March 1, 1950.

The Corps has proven its mettle on the key Western Front in various wars and achieved its objectives with courage and vigour. The Corps based in Punjab has witnessed some of the fiercest battles in history during the 1965 and 1971 wars. From the graveyard of Patton tanks at Khem Karan to the capture of Barki and Dograi, numerous acts of individual and collective bravery, gallant sacrifices and inspiring leadership have ensured the Vajra Corps played a pivotal role in shaping the history of the nation. The Vajra Corps units have been bestowed with the Theatre honour: Punjab and battle honours to include Dograi, Barki, Asal Uttar, Sehjra and Dera Baba Nanak and is proudly identified as the ‘Defenders of Punjab’.

The Corps Commander while addressing the Vajra warriors in a special sainik sammelan held to mark the occasion exhorted all ranks to continue to perform their duties as ‘Defenders of Punjab’, both in peace and war with dedication and in the highest traditions of the Army. He urged all ranks to remain operationally ready to take on the challenges of the future with selfless resolve and courage.