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1971 war changed history and geography of south Asia: Rajnath Singh

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Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, December 12

Commemorating 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the victory was the most decisive wars in the world after the World Wars. “It changed the history and geography of South Asia,” he added.

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Rajnath Singh inaugurated the ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’, an event commemorating the valour and professionalism of the Armed Forces and their contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh. The event marks the culmination of year-long celebrations of 50 years of India’s victory in the war.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses during the inauguration of the Swarnim Vijay Parv, at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday. The event commemorates 50 years of India’s historic victory in the 1971 war and the Indo-Bangladesh friendship. PTI photo
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“After the defeat of 1971, Pakistan is continuously fighting a proxy war,” Rajnath Singh said adding that Pakistan wants to disrupt peace in India by promoting terrorism and other anti-India activities. The Indian forces had foiled their plans in 1971 and work to eliminate terrorism from its root is in underway. “We have won in a direct war and the victory will be ours in indirect war as well,” he added.

The victory in the 1971 was the triumph of humanity over inhumanity said Rajnath Singh as he added “atrocities on the people of then East Pakistan was a threat to the entire humanity and it was India’s responsibility to liberate them”.

The determination, coordination and valour of the Indian Armed Forces during the war was commendable. The war is a classic example of India’s morals and democratic traditions. “It will be rarely seen in history that after defeating another country in a war, a country does not impose its dominance, but hands over power to its political representative. India did this, because it is a part of our culture. India has never invaded any country, nor has it ever captured an inch of land of any other country,” he said.

Rajnath Singh said “the anti-India feeling in Pakistan can be seen from the fact that they name their missiles after invaders who attacked India – Ghori, Ghaznavi, Abdali, whereas India’s missiles are named Akash, Prithvi, Agni”.

The 1971 war was a shining example of jointness and integration among the three Services, underlining the importance of planning, training and fighting together, the defence minister said.

A grand battle exhibition depicting major operations on the Eastern and Western Front of 1971 war are being displayed. Four of the most spectacular operations will be reconstructed as battle exhibitions displaying dioramas and models of PT -76 tanks mounted with cannons capturing Pakistani positions.

Tributes to Gen Rawat

Rajnath Singh began his address by paying rich tributes to the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8. “In the untimely death of General Rawat, India has lost a brave soldier, an able advisor and a lively person”.

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