Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit LAC, inaugurate war memorial for 1962 heroes

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on November 18 to inaugurate the revamped War Memorial honouring 114 Indian soldiers who were martyred in the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. The memorial will also commemorate 20 Indian soldiers who died in the Galwan valley clash last year.

Rezangla La was the site of the fierce battle of the 1962 India-Sino War, in which the 13th battalion of the Kumaon regiment fought till the last man to stop Chinese troops from crossing the bridge into the Chushul Valley. In the battle, 114 Indian soldiers were killed. 

The Indian side was led by Major Shaitan Singh, who was awarded a posthumous Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration, for his actions. The memorial will also commemorate 20 Indian soldiers martyred in the Galwan Valley clash in Eastern Ladakh last year.

The original memorial comprises a Spartan inner structure with the names of martyred soldiers. Last month, Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane visited Rezang La War Memorial and paid homage to the brave hearts who laid down their lives for the nation.

The renovation of the Rezang La war memorial on the Sino-India border started earlier this year. The Ladakh administration along with the Indian Army revamped the Rezang La memorial, located in Chushul in Ladakh.

Armed forces must be ready to respond at short notice: Defence Minister

On Wednesday, the defence minister said that armed forces 'need to be prepared to respond at a short notice for any contingency'. "Appreciated them (IAF) for maintaining a high level of preparedness, ability to respond on a short notice and displaying high standards of professionalism in carrying out operational and peacetime tasks," Singh said while addressing the Air Force Commanders’ Conference.

Last month addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference, Rajnath Singh lauded India for its response to cross-border terrorism. He complimented the armed forces for a high level of operational preparedness and capabilities which he experienced during his visits to forward areas.