Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate [File Photo] |
New Delhi: India on Saturday paid homage to the Indian soldiers who
fought and sacrificed their lives for the nation in the 1962 war with China.
On Saturday, it was for the first time when K Antony along
with the top military brass of the country paid tribute to martyrs of the 1962
war.
Antony was followed by the three service chiefs, the Field
Marshal of Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh (who is the only living Indian
military officer with a five-star rank) and Minister of State Pallamraju laid
wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India gate.
This is the first time that those who died in the 1962 war
are being remembered. "We are sincerely trying to file peaceful solution
to the long pending border issues through negotiations. The armed forces are
much more in a strong process," Antony said.
He was replying to a question on India vis-a-vis China 50
years after the 1962 war in which India had suffered defeat.
About 4,000 soldiers and officers died in, (nearly) month-long
war with China began Oct 20, 1962.