Martyrs’ Day observed at controversial site

Martyrs’ Day observed at controversial site
Bangalore: July 25, DHNS:

National Military Memorial (NMM) committee members and ex-servicemen observed Martyrs’ Day to mark the anniversary of ‘Kargil Victory Day’ at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park - the controversial War Memorial site - in the City on Sunday.


There was a sombre mood in the Park when the military band sounded the bugle. Veterans and serving officers saluted the statue of the ‘Unknown Soldier’.

Former Admiral of the Indian Navy, O S Dawson said seldom people remembered the heroes during the times of peace. “The tragedy is that the country does not seem to remember the heroes. I hope events such as these will help keep their memory alive,” he said. Dawson was critical of the successive governments for having forgotten the ordinary soldiers who live in the rural parts of the country.

Echoing similar views, wife of martyr Col Vasanth V, Subashini said that when her husband died fighting the insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir people around her had said that no one will remember him in six months. “I am happy and feel encouraged by the construction of the war memorial here in Bangalore. It is heartening to see that our sacrifices did not go in vain,” she said.

Replying to the allegations over the construction of the NMM, Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrashekar said: “The voice is not representative of the larger society in Bangalore.” His colleague and MP from Bangalore (South) Ananth Kumar “allaying fears” of the environmentalists said that the Park will be made the “greenest” in the City. “I promise that the Park where the NMM is being constructed will be greener than Cubbon Park and Lalbagh,” he said.

Earlier, the ex-servicemen applauded the efforts of Chief Minister for his efforts and vision to help build the NMM in the City.