AFVOA Newletters of Year 2005

Page 12 of 75 of valour along with the Army, the Para Military Forces and the Police in fighting the proxy war for decade and a half. ‘Over 15,000 civilians fell prey to killing by the terrorists in the State during the past 15 years. This included thousands of helpless women and children’, he added. 42. Gen Sinha said that the country has fought five wars with the help of the strong will of its people and supreme sacrifices of its forces. He said nowhere in the country such a large number of people’s lives were sacrificed in Jammu and Kashmir for upholding the national integrity. In this backdrop, he said, the raising of a unique war memorial is a historic occasion not only for the city of temples but for the whole country. He described Jammu as a land of valiant soldiers who remained always in the forefront to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. 43. The Governor said that war memorials is a tradition in every country but what makes the Balidan Stambh unique is its compositeness, as it will be a reminder of the collective endeavour of the people, the Army, the Para Military Forces and the Police to fight the enemy with valour and fortitude. He made a mention of Dogra warriors including Brig. Rajinder Singh whose contribution in saving Kashmir from tribal has made him immortal. The great military leader General Zorawar Singh played a glorious role in carving a great State from Hunza to Lakhanpur. These statues and the Balidan Stambh will project Jammu, the Duggar Veerbhoomi as a city of valiant heroes apart from being a city of temples, he said. 44. Quoting the famous couplet, "Shaheedoon ke mazaroon par lage gey har baras mele, Wattan par marne waloon ka yahi naam-o-nishan hoga," the Governor said that the park being developed at Balidan Stambh will enable such melas to be held every day instead of once a year. 45. Gen Sinha recalled the task assigned to him after 1971 war for raising a befitting war memorial for the Prime Minister to pay homage on Republic Day within a fortnight on January 26, 1972 and temporary memorial was constructed under the India Gate for the martyrs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Over 30 years have elapsed and a permanent memorial is yet to be conceived and constructed. The Police and the Para Military Forces are in the process of constructing a separate memorial and there is no memorial for civilian martyrs. The Balidan Stambh being put up in Jammu has shown the way and is a unique composite memorial, not only in India but in the world. 46. The Governor complimented the COAS, General N C Vij in taking the initiative and urged the State Government for naming a road or setting up an institution in his name, in honour of this valiant leader who is the son of soil. ‘It will be the pride of the State and will become a tourist attraction’, he added. 47. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that strong defence is necessary for strengthening the forces of peace and lauded the Army for helping in restoration of peace in the State. ‘This has to be sustained’, he added. 48. The Chief Minister said that the Army, the people and the administration are enjoying good rapport and referred to the civic action programme under which many strides have been taken. 49. The Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir has come into international focus on many counts, tourism being the latest and referred to annual arrival of 50 to 60 lakh pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine last year. Similarly over four lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine, he said. 50. Appreciating the idea of building Balidan Stambh, the Chief Minister called for close co-ordination between the army and Jammu Development Authority for making the site a